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We loved our tag team wrestling in the 1960s. Oh, how we loved it when the high flying speedy Stewart brothers outfoxed their villainous opponents the Cadmans, the Donlevys, the Rawlings and the Black Diamonds. Until, shock horror, one of the Sunday newspapers exposed the fact that Vic and Pete Stewart were not brothers at all, but father and son. If the Sunday newspaper thought that this piece of minor deception would undermine our belief in the sport they were to be sadly mistaken. All it did succeed in doing was demonstrate that Vic Stewart was a man who had extended his youth.
Despite nearing forty (born in 1926, name Lesie Lawler) Vic was quite believable as Pete’s older brother as we watched him speed his way around the ring outfoxing men many years younger. Vic Stewart was a very skilful wrestler. A technician who worked within the rules aided by a youthful appearance that made him immensely popular with fans.
Vic Stewart turned professional in the early 1950s and from the beginning found himself opposing established favourites that included Jack Beaumont, Martin Conroy, Tommy Pye, and Cyril Morris. The boy had class, and when Joint Promotions were formed in 1952 Vic was signed up to work exclusively for their members. In February 1954 he was billed to wrestle Spencer Churchill at the Royal Albert Hall, including a write-up in the programme. We have unverified notification that he was replaced by Babe Quesick. We would welcome clarification.
We note that the following night he was on the bill at Willenhall Baths, a stark reminder that delusions of grandeur had no place in professional wrestling. With his work mostly limited to the Midlands and north of England Vic worked for all Joint Promotion members, but most often for Wryton Promotions. In December 1957 Vic was tempted by offers from the independent promoters and dallied with the opposition for a year before returning to Joint Promotions in November 1958.
Vic appealed to a national audience on television wrestling during the early 1960s, making his debut in September, 1959, against John Allan. In the following six years further televised opponents included Les Kellett, The Great Togo, Bill Howes, Quasimodo, Ernie Riley and Alf Cadman. Not an easy set of opponents.
Vic continued to work regularly throughout the 1950s and 1960s, mainly in singles contests and occasionally with various tag partners until 1964. In 1964 Vic’s son, Peter, appeared on the scene. He was an immediate success and promoters took the opportunity to team Vic and Peter together as the Stewart brothers, testimony to Vic’s youthful appearance. They quickly established themselves as one of the country’s top tag teams alongside the Royals, Black Diamonds, White Eagles and McManus/Logan.
After twenty years in the business Vic Stewart retired from British wrestling in the late 1960s. He took over as landlord of the Ship Inn in Irlam.
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