These are our shorter Biographical portraits which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories.
John Scott
Bearded John Scott was a London policeman before he emigrated to New Zealand in 1964. Mythology tells us that tackling a rowdy punter at a wrestling tournament in Christchurch brought him to the attention of New Zealand wrestler John da Silva, and the Londoner soon found himself in the ring. He turned professional later in 1964, just two weeks later, and at one time claimed the New Zealand Junior Heavyweight Championship. One time tag partner of Bob Richardson, another Scot, in the Braw Lads tag team. They lost by straight falls to the Royal brothers in their only televised appearance, which was from Preston’s Guild Hall and broadcast in January 1976. He returned to Britain for a short time in 1968 when he spent Christmas with family in Scotland. John was back in Britain once again in 1974.
Roy Scott (Manchester)
The earliest of the two Roy Scotts we have listed was a Mancunian trainee at Grant Foderingham’s gym. He worked for independent promoters in the 1960s, mostly in the north of England. Opponents were all the usual Manchester wrestlers of the time – Alf Margate (later Marquette), Eddie Rose and Pete Lindberg and Monty Britton.
Sandy Scott (Edinburgh)
British wrestling has boasted a number of Sandy Scott’s. The first, real name Angus McKay Scott, was born in Edinburgh but moved to Canada aged five. He turned professional wrestler in 1953 and wrestled mainly in North America before visiting “home” in the 1960s.
Sandy Scott (Glenrothes)
A second Sandy Scott (not to be confused with the genuinely famous Canadian Sandy Scott). In the 1970s the red haired, bearded Sandy Scott from Glenrothes was Leeds-based, able to appear nationwide and made the most of his favour with the Yorkshire-based promoter of the time, débuting on television against Mike Marino and being fast-tracked for immediate inclusion on the final ever Royal presentation in November. He later moved to Canada where he was both wrestler and referee, for Stampede Wrestling.
Shane Scott
Maidstone’s Shane Scott started wrestling professionally shortly after leaving Cornwallis School, Linton, in the summer of 1980, a few months before his 17th birthday.. Mentored by Mike Marino we have found contests against Sid Cooper, Blondie Barratt, Klondyke Jake, Mel Stuart and other big names. We last spotted him mid 1991.
Wally Seddon
Yes, it’s true. There was something in the water in Lancashire.
Apart from the names we all remember there were hard men that could wrestle and made a vital contribution at a regional level. Such men were the backbone of the business, but never achieved lasting national fame. One of these was the Bolton tough nut, Wally Seddon. Times were hard during the 1930s recession and Wally turned to wrestling as an escape route from the hardship of life in the industrial north.
A regular at the big halls in Newcastle, Manchester and Liverpool Wally faced pre war greats such as Herbie Rosenberg, Jack Atherton and Vic Hessle.
Following the war Wally continued wrestling, rarely venturing further south than Birmingham, but facing the likes of Count Bartelli until he was last seen in 1955. The quality of opponent over such a long period is enough to show that here was a man of calibre.
Canelo Segura
The Mexican came over to Britain in 1974. He was already a seasoned professional of some twenty years, making his debut in 1952, mainly spent working in his native Mexico. In 1973 he began a tour of Europe, taking in Austria, Germany and Britain. A tv disqualification against Tug Wilson, but in 1974 when Niggly Mick was arguably at his peak promoter Ted Beresford seemingly allowed a disqualification verdict with Mick going down to Canelo Segura. Tells us something. Or does it?
Graham Sellars
Okay, we confess to knowing next to nothing about this stockily built heavyweight from Grimsby. The Who’s Who of Wrestling told us he was an ex soldier who was trained at Bradford YMCA by Joe Hill
Steve Serene (Also known as Solitaire)
Steve First became interested in wrestling when he met and became a close friend of JJ Pallo at school.He first started his wrestling at the age 15 when he joined Breaks Amateur Wrestling Club in Hatfield Hertfordshire.
He broke into the professional ranks in 1975 after being trained by Jackie Pallo and Jackie Jnr. and was soon to become a regular at all the venues run by Jackie Pallo Enterprises and other independent promoters. He was wrestling 3 to 4 times a week throughout the country from the mid seventies to the mid eighties both as himself and in a mask as Solitaire.
Through his connections with Jackie Pallo he was privileged throughout his career to wrestle with many of the greats of British wrestling and to appear on the same bills with all the top names.He appeared on four TV shows that were screened both here and in America.
Marius Servais
There was a short visit to southern England in February, 1964 for Belgian heavyweight Marius Servais. Opponents included Johnny Allan, Georges Gordienko, John Lees and Roy Bull Davis.
Wally Severn
Wally Severn worked for independent promoters such as Jack Taylor in the midlands during the 1960s. When he wasn’t being Wally Severn the wrestler he worked as an electrician in a Nottinghamshire colliery, or as one of the masked Undertakers. When he retired from wrestling Wally bought a hotel in Great Yarmouth.
Frank Sexton
A prestigious wrestling visitor came to Britain and Europe in 1950. Frank Sexton, a thirty six year old from Ohio, was the AWA World Heavyweight Champion, and reckoned by some to be the best of the World champions at the time. He was one of the few American World Champions to defend his title in Europe during his tour in the early months of 1950. The Dane Ivor Martinsen (6/1/50), Frenchmen Henri de Glane (13/1/50), and Felix Miquet (28/3/50), and two Briton’s Bert Assirati (11/2/50) and Bert Mansfield (7/3/50) all failed to take the title from Sexton. Both Mansfield at the Harringay Arena, and Assirati in Belgium, held the American to a draw. Sexton’s title was to remain intact throughout his European tour, but his five year reign came to an end a few months later with a loss to Don Eagle on 23rd May in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dave Shade
The popular motor mechanic and welterweight from Doncaster was one time tag partner of Catweazle Gary Cooper in the independent rings of the north, where he also had many bouts with Al Marshall.
Born in Doncaster in 1934 Dave came into the professional business quite late in life, turning professional in 1967. At first he worked the independent rings of the north for Cyril Knowles and Ace Promotions. In 1970 George DeRelwyskow signed him up to work for Joint Promotions, the proviso being that Dave was available for work travelling further afield to George’s Scottish venues. A good pro, remembered by fans , but frequently for many enjoyable matches against his friend Catweazle, and two televised contests, one against Catweazle and the other versus Little Prince. Dave disappeared from our rings in the late 1970s. We were saddened to hear of his death in December, 2014.
Ali Shan
1980s Pakistani heavyweight worked in Britain and Germany. Wrestled on ITV wrestling three times between June 1977 and August 1988.
Mick Shannon (Derry)
One of the greats of Irish wrestling, Michael Gallagher was born in Derry in 1937. All Irish middleweight champion for five years, the title bounced between himself and Dave Finlay. A compatriot of Eddie Hammill, Jack Flash Shirlow and Finlay, He trained at Andy McClea’s gym in his hometown after taking up wrestling whilst serving in The Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars. He turned professional in 1969 using the name Mick Shannon. In addition to wrestling Mick also promoted wrestling in northern Ireland. After retiring he trained amateur wrestling at his own club, The Buccaneers. Mick Shannon died on 31st January 2020, aged 83.
Ken Shaw
The Bermondsey adonis was a popular middleweight of the 1950s and 1960s. A skillled and athletic wrestler he combined his talents with immense strength, he’d started out as a body builder. As a party piece Ken would tear a telephone directory in three seconds and lie on a bed of nails, though not necessarily at the same time.
Shell Shellekar
Lightweight active, mostly in northern England, on both sides of the Second World War, from 1935 to 1947. Billed from Wigan, Manchester and the USA, we think we can safely rule out the latter. Sometimes advertised as British featherweight champion. A frequent opponent was Darkie Johnson (Little Larry), others included Mario Magisti, Johnny Summers and Babe Saxon.
Al Sherry
Al Sherry was wrestling his way around British rings in the early 1950s. Vic Coleman, Percy Pitman, Stan Stone and Johnny Peters were amongst opponents we could find. In July 1952 he disappeared. Only to resurface in 1953 in Australia, with http://www.wrestlingtitles.com listing him as Australian light heavyweight champion in 1953.
Heritage member John Shelvey is on the trail, “Also does anyone have any info./ results on Englishman Allen Sherry who was a leading light in Sydney in the 50s-early 60s? …. seemed to get out just before the Yanks invaded in ’64, which was just as well as the locals were looked upon as cannon fodder for the Americans and there were a lot of liberties taken with the lighter guys.” Do get in touch if you can add more.
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Wrestling Heritage 