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The name Tom Wade was well known in sporting circles, but that had nothing to do with wrestling. Born in Maldon, he was a first-class cricket player for Essex from 1929 to 1950. A connection with wrestling was formed in the early 1930s when his brother, Peter, took up professional wrestling under the name Clem Lawrence. The surprise came in December, 1937, when Tom announced he too was about to take up wrestling. It wasn’t just eyebrows raised. Questions were raised among the Essex Cricket Committee whether it was right that the club should pay the player during the winter whilst earning money from wrestling. Requests that the club banned Tom from wrestling were rejected and the committee gave their consent. He made his debut at his local hall, the Chelmsford Corn Exchange, on 11th December, 1937. He received strong local support as he defeated Aussie the Butcher who was unable to continue in the second round when he injured his ear. Although there were good reports of his ability Tom’s wrestling activities were limited as his priority was cricket. He disappeared from the ring in 1940 and retired from cricket, due to fibrositis, in 1950.
Thomas Henry Wade was born on 24th November, 1910 and died on 25th July, 1987.
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