Also known as Ted Beckley, Dr Death
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Legacy
A wrestler of some twenty-five years, an acclaimed trainer and promoter at the Parr Hall in Warrington, Ted Betley certainly made his mark. A speech trait in parts of Lancashire to soften the “t” caused fans and promoters to frequently distort Ted’s surname to Beckley. It was definitely the name Edward Betley on the birth certificate, born in Warrington on 24th January, 1922.
When it comes to the genuine article amongst the old timers the name Ted Betley is right up there alongside the names of Billy Riley, Billy Chambers and Billy Joyce.
In 1939 as war approached Ted was working for a butcher, but with the outbreak of hostilities he joined the Royal Air Force. Immersed in catch as catch can wrestling from his youth Ted turned to professional wrestling whilst serving in the foces.
Twenty year old Ted began to squeeze wrestling bouts into his wartime commitments as promoters in the major towns and cities kept the business going to maintain a climate of normality during the hostilities. Our earliest documented record of Ted Wrestling is in January, 1941 at Chester, where Butcher Boy Betley lost to Alf Jenkins. Early opponents, often at Belle Vue in Manchester, included Norman Thomas, Val Cerino, Bert Mansfield and Bill Ogden.
In 1945 Ted married Edna Millman, the sister of wrestler Mick Millman, who was the father of Mike Dallas.
Following the war Ted’s career upped a gear or two and he could be seen around Britain, though mostly in the midlands, northern England and Scotland against other post war greats that included Billy Joyce, Count Bartelli and Jack Beaumont. Those in the know testify that when it came to shooting Ted could hold his own with any of them.
Ted continued wrestling until 1965, in the last few years his name was often associated with a northern England version of Dr Death, confirmed by fellow wrestler Paul Mitchell.
Retirement brought a new phase of success for Ted and it is as an inspirational trainer of a new generation of wrestling stars for which he is mostly celebrated. Based in a gymnasium behind his home in Golborne Road, Winwick, Ted Betley was responsible for creating international wrestling stars Dynamite Kid, Davey “British Bulldog” Smith and Wonderboy Steve Wright. Claims made by others that he trained Dave “Fit” Finlay are erroneous.
Highly respected in the wrestling world Ted turned down an invitation to move to Japan and teach his wrestling skills. Instead, at the age of 59, he sold his grocery business, locked up the gym for the last time and moved to Port Erin in the Isle of Man.
Ted Betley lived in the Isle of Man until his death, aged 79, in February 2001.
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