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1970s independent wrestler Steve Walton achieved international recognition as one of the best, but it was not in the world of wrestling. For forty years, until his premature death, Steve was a world renowned animal trainer, specialising in Dolphins, yet also working with other creatures such as whales, sea lions bears and chimpanzees. Indeed it was an unfortunate incident with a chimpanzee in frilly knickers that brought Steve to national attention in December, 1972, when the Daily Mirror reported that Molly had escaped and made uninvited visits to houses in Stanley View, Leeds.
Steve’s interest in animals was connected to his wrestling activities. Steve was employed as the dolphin trainer at Don Robinson’s Marineland in Scarborough. One of Robinson’s many business interests was as a major independent wrestling promoter in the 1960s and 1970s. Forty years later Steve described himself then, and still, as part of the Don Robinson family, as his friendship with Robinson and colleagues endured for decades.
Although soccer was his first sporting love, he had a trial for Leeds United, Steve developed an interest in wrestling whilst working for Robinson in the company of wrestlers Klondyke Bill and Toma Hansom. Steve trained with them and eventually became a part time wrestler on 1970s independent shows, mainly working for Don Robinson. He was certainly handily placed to fill the place of a missing wrestler on a Robinson show.
From Scarborough Steve moved as head trainer of dolphins at Windsor Safari Park and yet this was only the start of his incredible story. Following work in many animal parks Steve worked self employed as an animal adviser, travelling the world and setting up animal health and breeding programmes.
Wherever he travelled Steve always returned home to Scarborough where he remained in touch with, and supported, Toma Hansom (until his death), Don Robinson, and the other north east lads. He organised and read the eulogy for Toma’s funeral, following which he chartered the pleasure boat the Coronia to scatter Toma’s ashes in the sea off Scarborough, Until the outbreak of Covid 19 Steve was still travelling the world sharing his internationally acclaimed knowledge of marine wildlife.
Steve Walton died from Covid 19 on 13th December, 2020, aged 66.
Page added 27/11/2023
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