An Illustrated History of Old Sutton in St.Helens

Part 23 (of 58) - Sutton Boxers and Wrestlers

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Researched & Written by Stephen Wainwright ©MMXI Contact Me

Header image: A montage of boxer Bold Thomas, an unknown boxer and wrestler Billy Beech

a) Introduction

Fighting in Sutton has historically served as a popular sport, means of settling disputes and a vehicle for gambling. The Liverpool Mercury of November 5th, 1856 reported on a bare-knuckle prize fight held at Hell Bess Farm near Sherdley Hall which was attended by 500 onlookers. The contest was between "two well-known pugilists, named Thomas Redman and Thomas Dillon, both residing in St.Helen's". However, a police raid led by Superintendent Mather put an end to the proceedings and three seconds were arrested.

Hardened miners participated in purring, which was naked clog-fighting in which they'd kick each other in the head. By the end of the nineteenth century, Lancashire catch wrestling had largely replaced purring. Although somewhat safer than clog-fighting, it still had a reputation for being quite a violent sport and rules were introduced to safeguard the wrestlers from serious injury. For instance, there was a ban on deliberately breaking an opponent's bones!

Fist fights in the street were quite common sights. Frank Bamber was born in 1910 and in his book Clog Clatters in Old Sutton describes regularly seeing priests from St.Annes church and monastery clad in black robes and sandalled feet hurrying to the streets around Peckershill Road to stop a fight. Surrounded by a crowd, the pugilists would often be the worse for drink, settling a score or a Suttoner might be battling an Irishman. Frank also describes how regular fights took place after school behind All Saints Church between two Sutton 'Nash' pupils who battled for the coveted title of 'Cock Ot' School':

The church did a grand job of screening the two battlers and spectators from the main Ellamsbridge Road and generally we had no interference from anyone except a very big woman who, at times, would rush across the field from Carnegie Street with two buckets of water and try to hurl the contents at us. This prompted us to either cheer, jeer or boo her. It was all good fun and excitement. Before the battle commenced, jackets were taken off and handed to seconds and short sleeves were wrapped up. If you wore a gansey, like I did, you just put your fists up and tried to get the first clout in.

Boxer in Walisdale Cottage, Sutton, St.Helens
On the right of this photo is park-keeper Willie Prescot who also trained boxers in the cellar of Walisdale Cottage in Gerrards Lane during the 1920s – the boxer is unknown, although an inscription by mother Mary Prescot says “The centre man is our Willie's pupil…he has boxed at The International Hall, Liverpool, twice and won each time. He can beat anyone his weight, either in St Helens or Liverpool. He does all his training down our cellar.” - contributed by Joan Heyes & Brenda Macdonald

Recognising that it was far better for young men to fight with gloves in a ring than bare-fist in the street, organised boxing became increasingly encouraged. Although there was seemingly no venue in Sutton that regularly hosted boxing, occasional tournaments were held in various locations. In February 1938 the St.Helens Newspaper reported on a "splendid" boxing tournament that had been held at Sutton National School which Frank Bamber had attended twenty years earlier. Garden parties held at Sherdley Hall sometimes featured boxing, such as when Michael Hughes-Young, the new owner of the Sherdley estate visited Sutton on June 3rd, 1939. Then Bold Thomas, Al Devanney, Darkie Brownbill, Tommy Burns, Spike Kelly, Billy Gormley, Kid and Nipper Marsh, Bobby Rose, Billy Watson, Joe Travis and Ginger Davies competed in an open air display.

Regular boxing was held in a number of St.Helens venues. 'Boxing' magazine's edition of July 15th, 1911 reported how after laying dormant for twenty years, "the noble art" was again attracting attention in St.Helens. It described how Liverpool's International Boxing Hall had just secured the Skating Ring in Warrington Road that could accommodate 2000 people. Plus "well-known coloured pugilist of former days", Felix Scott, had started a boxing school in Corporation Street. The town's Hippodrome, Palatine Hall and Theatre Royal also regularly staged boxing matches.

Wrestling also became increasingly popular throughout the twentieth century and was led locally by the Beech family in Sutton Manor who relocated from Staffordshire then Wigan.

This page is intended to document the boxing and wrestling personalities of Sutton, who in their day were well-known names locally and even nationally. Poorly paid, they risked life and limb several nights a week in contests of up to 20 rounds, while also holding down demanding day jobs. If you can supply further information and/or photographs, please do get in touch. Some of the information on this page has been sourced from commissioned research made by this website from boxing historian Miles Templeton.

b) Ernie Proudlove - Boxer and Coach

Report on boxer Ernie Proudlove in Boxing magazine

Ernie Proudlove was born in Widnes c. 1891 but lived for quite a number of years in Herbert Street in Sutton. Boxing historian Miles Templeton has found records of eighty-three professional bouts by Proudlove which took place between 1910 and 1921. Of these, Ernie won forty, lost forty and drew three contests. However, in an interview with Thompson's Weekly News, reported in the St.Helens Newspaper on August 8th 1916, Proudlove claimed to have already fought:

...about 80 fights, and out of that number I have had about 60 wins. I have never yet been knocked out and have only once been disqualified on a foul, and that decision I most strongly refute....At Accrington I beat Eddie Jones, of Blackburn, the 9st. 61b. champion of England, knocking him clean out in nine rounds, notwithstanding that I was giving over a stone away.

In 1916 Proudlove became the Lancashire flyweight champion and in July of that year he knocked out Billy Welch in Middlesborough in the 17th round of a 20 round fight, winning the Pitman's Bantamweight Championship of Great Britain. Weekly periodical 'Boxing' in their edition of 22nd November, 1916 referred to his "famous right swing" and he was known as an aggressive, hard-hitting boxer who fought all over the country.

Boxer Ernie Proudlove
Ernie Proudlove in later years pictured in the Junction Inn - contributed by Alan McDermott

Frank Bamber wrote in his memoirs, Clog Clatters in Old Sutton, that Proudlove coached other boxers at Old Sutton Farm near Reginald Road during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Alan McDermott, whose family ran the Junction Inn for many years from 1932, writes to this website that Ernie was a regular at the pub and his photo was hung over the bar. Ernest Proudlove died on September 17th, 1977 aged 86 and is buried in St.Nicholas Churchyard.

c) Bold Thomas - Boxer, Coach and Promoter

Boxer Bold Thomas
Two photographs of George 'Bold' Thomas taken in his younger days and during the 1980s

George 'Bold' Thomas had a long association with the sport he loved. He began as an amateur boxer, then progressed to the professional ranks before becoming coach and promoter with his own boxing academy in Berry's Lane, Sutton. Here he coached many popular pugilists such as featherweight Bobby Rose from Haydock, hard-hitting light-welterweight Joe Travis and the singing featherweight Marsh twins, Cliff and Ray. Bold Thomas then acted as trainer at St.Helens Town in Hoghton Road. In a 16-year spell with the club, he trained future England players John Connelly and Billy Foulkes, as well as legendary German goalkeeper Bert Trautmann. Popular with the players, Bold was renowned for his disciplined approach and introduced vigorous physical training exercises and banned smoking on match-days.

However, it was boxing that was his first love. Born George Thomas about 1913, he attended Sutton National school and made his fighting debut in Len Johnson's Boxing Booth when aged sixteen. He trained at the family-run Douglas boxing club in Sutton and after turning professional, appeared as a welterweight at the opening night of Earlestown's famed Blue Pig venue. Bold's opponents included Alf Twelves, Digger Stanley as well as Jackie Potts who fought for the Northern Area title.

In those days boxers had a day job and Bold was a machinist at a copper company. After retiring from the ring, he coached at Old Sutton Farm with Ernie Proudlove and then began promoting tournaments. This includes the event at Sutton National School in February 1938 mentioned in this page's introduction. After a lifetime in boxing and training footballers at St.Helens Town, Bold Thomas enjoyed a retirement at his Carnegie Crescent home.

Boxer George Bold Thomas
George 'Bold' Thomas c. 1930 - contributed by Alan McDermott

(This article has been sourced in part from an article in the St.Helens Star called 'Bold Lived Up To His Plucky Nickname' from June 16th, 1983 - courtesy St.Helens Local History & Archives Library)

d) Mick Gordon - "the Fighting Collier"

Boxing historian Miles Templeton has found records of 80 professional contests by Mick Gordon of Harrison Street in Sutton. These took place between 1910 and 1922 and Mick, who sometimes went under the name of Mike or Mickey, won 38, lost 24 and drew 18 bouts. However these were the contests reported by contemporary boxing magazines and there were very many other unreported bouts that Gordon fought.

Born in 1891, Mick began his fighting career in a Sutton Heath backyard, training alongside Joe Heathcote, who's said to have been an old boxing character. Working down the pit during the day, Mick started in the local boxing booths before fighting in the major arenas. At the age of just 18, he took on as many as five opponents per week after working down the mine. Sometimes he was summoned as a last-minute substitute for fighters who'd pulled out and he was reputed to have stepped into the ring with pit grime still on his body.

In July 1911 'Mickey' Gordon's fight against Charlie Milestone from Chester was described by 'Boxing' periodical as the "star turn" on the opening night of boxing at the Skating Ring in Warrington Road, St.Helens. Gordon was described by the magazine as having a hurricane style. In their edition of March 9th, 1912 he was described as:

...a sturdily built youngster with a very hard punch in either hand, and he likes to reserve his power until he gets to close quarters.

This was in a report on a fight by Mick Gordon in Plymouth and four days later, 3,000 people watched him outpoint Bert Slack in the town. Fighting in Bargoed, South Wales in September 1912, the referee commented how popular Gordon had been with the crowd writing in 'Boxing' that they "nearly wrung his hands off at the finish". This was despite defeating local lad Joe Johns. Long train journeys after his shift down the pit didn't favour Gordon as was commented by a 'Boxing' reporter in their edition of January 2nd, 1915, when he was defeated by George Groves in front of 3,000 spectators:

...his speed appeared to have suffered by the long journey in a holiday
train which only landed him in Merthyr at 7 o' clock

In its edition of April 19th, 1916, he was described as the personification of awkwardness as his "crouch, cover, and general attitude in action" made it difficult to land an effective punch. Many fighters with whom Mick battled went on to become title holders, including Billy Benyon, Billie Marchant and Johnny Basham. In a biography, Basham described his clash with the hard-punching Mick as the hardest of his career.

Unsurprisingly Gordon was given the nickname of the 'fighting collier' who normally weighed in around the featherweight mark but who was prepared to take on all-comers of various weights. After marrying he had seven children, so needed every penny he could earn. In 1921 tragedy struck when Gordon's wife died. He re-married but by then had retired from the ring. He was only 45 when in 1936 he died from pneumonia. In the week before his death, Mick Gordon had completed a full week's hard slog down the mine.

(This article has been sourced from a Whalley's World article in the St.Helens Star
called 'Pit-Grimed Battling Legend Mick' from April 24th, 1997)

e) Wilf Douglas

Boxing historian Miles Templeton has found records of 38 professional contests by Wilf Douglas from Junction Lane in Sutton. These took place between 1932 and 1937 and Wilf won 19, lost 13 and drew 6 bouts.

Wilfred Terence Douglas was born on the 3rd October, 1913 at 8 Junction Lane, which later became a fish and chip shop. He was the son of Jennie and James Douglas, who worked at an iron foundry and young Wilf took up boxing when aged sixteen. On the bill for a fight at the Manchester Sporting Club (pictured right), the bantamweight was described as a "two Handed fighter whose non-stop fighting keeps the crowd on its toes."

Managed by Harry Fleming, his short but prolific career seemed to end because of a difficulty in obtaining fights, as revealed in a short article in the St.Helens Newspaper of January 7th, 1938 which announced that Wilf was becoming an airman:

Wilf Douglas, popular Sutton bantam-weight boxer, has decided to join the RAF. Douglas was one of the most promising bantams in the town and he will probably carry on boxing in the Force. Douglas has decided to join the Air Force owing to difficulty in obtaining engagements.

Wilf Douglas was also an athlete and at one time competed in the Northern Cross Country Championship held at Haydock Park.

(This article has been sourced in part from information contributed by James Douglas,
the son of boxer Wilf Douglas)

Boxing reports on Wilf Douglas fights
Reports from 'Boxing' magazine on two Wilf Douglas fights published 23/10/1935 (left) and 11/12/1935 (right)

f) Ike Beech from Sutton Manor

Wrestler Ike Beech of Milton Street Sutton Manor
Isaac 'Ike' Beech of Milton Street in Sutton Manor - contributed by Paul O'Connor

On June 9th 1939, an interview with Ike Beech was published in the St.Helens Newspaper. By this time the wrestler from Sutton Manor was 47 years of age and had recently lost an eye in an accident but was still wrestling. The article reported that Ike's recipe for sporting endurance during middle age was:

...to do plenty of walking, drink olive oil and learn to massage yourself.

Isaac Beech was born in Biddulph, Staffordshire about 1892 and moved to Wigan when he was nine years old. He began his wrestling career when aged thirteen and three years later won the Lancashire Catch-As-Catch-Can Championship, defeating top Wigan wrestlers Jack Brown and Joe Daley, who later became world champions.

In 1914 Ike moved to Milton Street in Sutton Manor and soon won a St.Helens Open Wrestling Championship, defeating well-known names Billy Riley and Bob Silcock. Beech also won championships in Lancashire and Yorkshire and became one of the top names in the north of England. According to the St.Helens Newspaper article his "rough-house tactics" made him popular with crowds.

The sport then lacked structure and two wrestlers could be locked in combat on a mat for hours. The introduction of all-in wrestling in 1930 created timed rounds with victory obtained by two falls, two submissions or a knockout. It was a more exciting, crowd-pleasing sport and according to the Newspaper, Ike Beech took to it "like a duck to water". Despite being in his forties, he defeated many well-known American 'mat-men'.

Sometimes styling himself 'Colonel' Ike Beech, the Sutton Manor wrestler enjoyed other sports, including football, bowls and rugby league, playing for Saints during the 1921-2 season. The St.Helens Newspaper profile of Ike suggested that his sporting career was about to end as a result of losing an eye, as the Wrestling Association were unlikely to permit him to continue wrestling. However, by this time Ike's son Billy was following in his father's footsteps and making quite a name for himself in wrestling circles.

g) Billy 'Ted' Beech

Billy Beech had the same name as his uncle, who was a well-known wrestler in Wigan and a former British and world welter-weight champion. So when 14-year-old William began wrestling at Silcock's fair in Thatto Heath and Peasley Cross football ground and then fairgrounds up and down the country, he styled himself as 'Babe' Billy Beech. His day job was working at Sutton Manor Colliery, which was close to his Milton Street home where he'd been born in 1921. He also worked at times at Clock Face Colliery and Groves Colliery in Sherdley Road.

Wrestler Billy Beech
Billy Beech photographed in 1977 - he was billed under a variety of names including Ted Beech and Dr. Death

Billy left the amateur ranks at the age of fifteen, shortly before his father Ike's career ended, initially going under the name of Babe 'Butcher' Beech. As a teenager he also played rugby league and boxed in his spare time. By 1940 he felt he was too old to be known as 'Babe', and still wanting to differentiate himself from his uncle, he became 'Ted' Beech when in the ring. However, this wasn't the end of his name changes, as he was also masked mystery man 'Dr. Death' and sometimes was known as the 'Red Devil', 'Executioner', 'Black Arrow' or 'Hangman'.

He left Sutton Manor Colliery in 1957 to become a full-time wrestler and usually fought five nights a week. In 1962, 15-stone Billy became British heavyweight champion, losing the title the following year to Saxon Smith of Wigan. Billy claimed to have won 85% of his fights as Ted Beech and was undefeated under the monicker Dr.Death. In 1968 the Milton Street mat-man was forced to retire from wrestling after being operated on for a gastric ulcer and developing a knee injury.

In an article published in the St.Helens Reporter on January 28th, 1977, Billy said:

When I wore the mask I became the villain of the ring. It excited the audiences and that probably helped keep Dr.Death undefeated. I miss my past life. My father was also a professional wrestler and I was born with it in my blood...It was often a hard life, and several times I came away from a fight with broken ribs, wrists, or elbows. But I wouldn't have changed it for anything.

After retiring Billy became a steward at Clock Face Recreation Club and he died in January 1985. In an obituary report in the St.Helens Reporter of January 11th, his wife Marie commented how irate spectators would stub out cigarettes on his back and how he often returned home black and blue after a bout:

I can remember going to Crewe one evening when the audience just went wild. Chairs and umbrellas were flying everywhere and I don't think I went to watch him fight again after that.

h) Ray Shiel

Ray Shiel lived most of his life in Sutton and was able to boast a quite remarkable amateur record as a light-heavyweight with 400 fights but only six defeats. He was born in 1940 and first boxed aged just six and was soon winning schoolboy championships. Shiel once fought three bouts in one day and won each fight by a knock out. After turning professional, Ray fought as a heavyweight and became a contender for the British and European titles.

He was feared by many and it was said that both Billy Walker and Brian London refused to fight him. However he did fight some top boxers including Gerhard Zech, Johnny Prescott, Jim Cooper (twin brother of Henry) and American Thad Spencer, who he fought on the undercard of a Floyd Patterson world title fight. Shiel considered that his best win was against the former Empire champion Joe Bygraves, who he defeated against the odds.

His professional record was 43 fights with 23 wins including 13 knockouts, 18 losses and two draws. During the 1960s as his reputation grew, he dined with Frank Sinatra as well as the Kray twins Ronnie and Reggie. He boxed for his country on at least a couple of dozen occasions and captained Great Britain.

After retiring from boxing, Ray Shiel lived in Houghton Road, Sutton where he regularly raised money for charity and worked as a foreman at Pilkingtons. He died in December 2009 aged 70 and his funeral was held at All Saints Church on Ellamsbridge Road attended by many former sportsmen including Alex Murphy.

Next: Part 24) Leisure and Entertainment; | Research Sources, References & Bibliography

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