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Happy Birthday ´Jumpin Jimmy ´ |
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Saturday, 10 January 2004 |
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On Thursday 8th January a suprise party was held at Little Hulton Conservative Club for the 80th birthday of one of the last true legends of British wrestling, Jumpin Jim Hussey . Many of you will only know him by name,some of you may not even have heard of him,but believe me he is a REAL legend. He was known as Jumpin Jim because of his ability to do a dropkick from a standing position and land back on his own two feet ! He is was also one of the biggest gag pullers ever to put on a pair of wrestling boots, even Tommy Billington came in a sorry second to him.Even today stories of the things he used to get up to are still talked about in dressing rooms around the world. When I first started wrestling for Max Crabtree he put me on with Jimmy at nearly all his shows, as he knew that like all new kids I needed the help of a true pro to get me through the first few months in my newly chosen career. Jimmy did a hell of a job for me,making me look much better than I really was at that time,and I will be forever greatfull to him. Jimmy was not a great flyer,in those days nobody ever dreamed of going up to the top rope, but his timing in the ring was as good as anyones that Ive ever seen,a total contrast to his son, Mark Rocco. He had an incredible ammount of personality and charisma and just by looking at the crowd he had them standing on there toes,crying for his blood. I know that times are very different now but I honestly believe that Jimmy would be just as big a star in todays business. When he tag teamed with Roy Bull Davies you could be sure that the arena was going to explode at some time during the course of the match, and ttey were often chased through the streets of Edinburgh by a crowd that would have hanged them if they had caught them. Mark ,on the other hand, was a high flyer of the highest quality, in my opinion the man who changed British wresting forever,with his all action,top rope, anything goes style. Put Mark on in the last match, and it saved the ring crew the job of taking the ring down,he did it for them. The only thing he had in common with his Dad was the most important, charisma ! Mark went on to become,along with Fit Finlay,the best two middlewieghts in the world. He was also a great gag puller, but not as good as his dad. ( sorry Mark ) Although I was unable to attend the party my family were well represented by my Mother Hilda, at 82 a lifelong friend of Jimmy and his wife Lynn,and my older brother, Roy St. Clair, plus a great number of celebrities who wanted to be there to share his memorable evening. His son, Mark and his lovely wife Ann,Brian Dixon and his wife Mitzi Mueller, Bert Royal and brother Vic Faulkner,Marty Jones, Johnny South, Steve Young,Steve Haggerty, Alf Cadman, Jacky Robinson,Albert Wall, John Cox,Alf Marquet,Naughty Nicky Monroe, and last but not least Colin Joynson all turned out to show ther respect to a true living legend, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMMY,sorry I didnt make it,Ill have to wait for your 90th Yours in sport, Tony St.Clair
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