It is with great sadness that we report on the passing of John Bland on Wednesday December 27.
Friend and wrestling contender John Richardson said: “I knew John for almost 73 years through the Kendal wrestling academy. In the early years John developed into what many veterans considered to be, one of the best wrestlers since the 1940s.
“I know from personal experience that John was the best all round wrestler since the Second World War. I found John not only a champion wrestler but a ‘champion’ friend and in all 73 years, I do not remember having a wrong word with him. He was an example to his family and to us all.
“John will not only be remembered for his wrestling success but also for losing his hired kilt at the 1956 Braemar Highland Games in front of the Queen who was caught on camera, laughing her head off. The photograph appeared on the front page of some daily newspapers.
“This was back in the dark ages before TV. The weekly news was shown on Pathe news before the main film at the Palladium in Kendal. We were all there to see it and get a good laugh – John, where’s your troosers?”
President of the Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling Association, Chris Bland, brother to John, reports: “In 1951, our father started taking the older boys of the family to Kendal Cumberland & Westmorland (C&W) Wrestling Academy where they met John Richardson, Peter and Tony Hayhurst and the Bowness brothers amongst many others.
“I need to say at this point that the Bland- Hayhurst family friendship goes back over two generations, starting with our father and Peter’s dad and uncles – all brought together by Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling.
“To go to John’s wrestling career; in 1955 he won Grasmere 12st at 18 years of age. In the years 1957 and 1962 he won the 11st. For John’s early Grasmere wins, I was too young to appreciate them but he was back to win again in 1968 with the 13st.
“Grasmere Sports’ 1968 12st event saw John reach the final and take runner-up to Alan Davidson. Moving on, in the 13st class they both met again in the final.
“Alan was taller and younger than John and in my opinion was the very best of that era. In this second final, I am sure that John had got his thoughts together along with a bit more determination and the result was reversed. It was a tremendous performance against an extremely good wrestler, bearing in mind John was 31 and past his best, but the skill was still there.
“In terms of championships, John won the 11st at Kendal Gala in 1956 and again at Barbon in 1960. He became a double champion – also winning the 10.5st in 1960.
“I always felt that John was one of the very best wrestlers to watch, the action started fast and was usually all over very quickly. The only wrestlers I can remember who were in the same league for providing really good entertainment were Raymond and Eddie Wharton at their peak.”
A newspaper cutting from 1954 tells of John Bland’s exceptional performance at only 17 years of age when competing in an Academy Competition.
His outstanding performance enabled Kendal to win their away match with Gilsland by 34 falls to 20. John’s feat of winning nine falls – three in each section – had not been equalled as far as records showed.
On John’s first championship win, Peter Hayhurst recalls: “The first person to congratulate him was my Aunty Lily who ran out into the ring and gave John a big hug.
“She said she had to be the first to congratulate him because she was the first to bathe him when he was born. It was all part of the Bland-Hayhurst family friendship.”
Peter fully supported John Richardson’s views about John Bland as a wrestler and is convinced that he could have won a lot more.
Peter said that he was extremely fast and when he was in the “right frame of mind” no one else really stood a chance in his weight range.
To emphasise his speed, Peter tells a story that at one venue, he and John met in a final on a very wet day. John won with two straight falls.
Peter had been complaining about the weather all day and did again after the final, to which Bob McGregor replied: “Thoo wasn’t oot theer lang enough to git wet.”
