TheGrappling Times Pat ‘Bomber’ Roach: A game as well as the mat based submission stuff that was the bread and butter of Champion Among Men most matches and is still taught like that in many places in Great Britain today. Birmingham born and bread, he 19/5/1937 – 17/7/2004 truly loved his west midland roots and would refuse to move away, even when Hollywood came knocking many years later, he loved Birmingham: the people, the hustle and bustle and most of all the wrestling that had been such a fixture of the city for so many years. He was trained as a wrestler by Alf Kent, and his first professional match was against George Selko. He would work the circuit up and down the country and was a regular for Joint Promotions’ television broadcast for World of Sport. In an era in which saw Kendo Nagasaki, Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Tony St Clair and Rollerball Rocco compete he was a big man that was able to go with all of them. A large man that moved surprisingly well between the ropes considering his size and knew a hold or two on the mat. He captured his first British Heavyweight Championship after he had already became involved in his second love, acting. On 26 April 1986 he beat Ray Steele for the championship, but due to his ever increasing acting schedule he was British wrestling was unified once forced to vacate the belt. After World of again on Saturday morning, July 17 Sport had ended and wrestling was no 2004. Promoters, wrestlers and fans longer televised on a weekly fashion, all woke up to find out of the death promoters found him a big draw due to his of Pat Roach. It didn’t matter about television and film exploits and won the old grudges, short pay cheques or the European Heavyweight Championship in odd tribute act, British wrestling was 1990 in Cardiff, Wales but then lost it to united once more, even only briefly, Giant Haystacks in the same month because Pat had died. (March) of that year. He would later beat “I never had a gimmick” Roach Haystacks for the same title again the told Simon Garfield for his 1996 book The following year, but once again was unable Wrestling. He stood six foot four and a to hold onto it for any length of time. half inches (albeit billed at 6’6) and was He went onto to retire from the nineteen stone, a true dominator of the ring as John Freemantle’s British squared circle, and when he was in there, Heavyweight Champion in Premier he had everyone’s attention, regardless of Promotions. their age or sex. At a time when ‘In the dressing-rooms around the professional wrestling was receiving big wrestling world, Pat Roach was one of the ratings on ITV through World of Sport as boys. He never asked or expected to be well as the show bring sold to 37 stations treated differently to anyone else.’ across the globe, combined with many Freemantle said. tours abroad including the United States, He took his bumps, bled in the Pat Roach was a British in ring ring and them niggerling injuries that only ambassador, and there were few finer. get worse as time goes by did not stop In the ring he was all business, a Roach who wrestled for the pure pleasure rough and ready style that combined a of it at the end. European heavy handed approach to the 1/3 TheGrappling Times ‘Away from the glamour, he was a allowed him to say that Spielberg and private individual. But to everyone who Arnold Schwarzenegger were his friends. knew him and earned his respect, Pat His acting break came when he Roach was forever a friend.’ Freemantly landed a part in the cult film Clockwork concluded, knowing that as a promoter Orange and then went onto work with Pat Roach had not just made him money, Steven Spielberg in the Indian Jones films. drew crowds that would not have normally But his big break that allowed him to attended a wrestling show, but also had make the transition from playing the one of the most respected and honest ‘heavy’ was when he landed the part in individuals ever found in wrestling as part Auf Wiedersehen, Pet as Brian 'Bomber' of Premier Promotions. Busbridger, which filmed two successful Now relocated in Tailand, former series for ITV in the mid to early 80’s TWA Promoter and wrestling personalitiy before it was resurrected by the BBC in Scott Conway told us ‘I was very sad to 2002 for a series then and one which was hear of the death of Pat Roach, although I aired earlier this year. was involved in the wrestling business His full acting credits are as before I met him I was trained to wrestle follows: Crust (2001). Kull the Conquereor by Pat Roach in 1982 in Birmingham. A (1997), The Portrait of a Lady (1996), Jack very good trainer, I was also lucky enough and Jeremy’s Police 4 (1996), Life with to use him on many shows when I started Billy (1995, TV), Robin Hood: Prince of promoting from 1985. In my opinion he Thieves (1991), Sea Dragon (1990, TV), was one of Britain’s top heavyweights a The Storyteller: Greek Myths (1990, TV), great wrestler for his size’ The Big Man (1990), Wings of Fame Along with his size and stature it (1990), The Return of the Musketeers was his pure love for the wresting (1989), Indian Jones and the Last Crusade business that has shined through the (1989), Willow (1988). Harry’s Kingdom tributes. (1987, TV), The Last Place on Earth ‘Even though Pat made a name for (1985), Red Sonja (1985), Conan the himself in TV and movies, he never forgot Destroyer (1984), Indiana Jones and the the wrestling business, which he loved. He Temple of Doom (1984), Auf travelled hundreds of miles to fill bookings Wiedersenhen, Pet (1983, 1986, 2002, and receive wages of peanuts compared 2004, TV), Never Say Never Again (1983), to his other TV and movie work, but this Clash of the Titans (1981), Raiders of the showed his love for the business.’ Lost Ark (1981), Spaceman and King ‘He told great stories about his Arthur (1979), Barry Lyndon (1975) and wrestling career, in which he travelled the had small parts in Casualty, The Bill and world’. The New Adventures of Robin Hood ‘I would like to send by among others. condolences to his family, rest in piece Pat He was brought in as FWA – a great wrestling loss’ Commisioner last year but due to his Pat Roach will go down in the illness and television schedule was only record books as the man that said able to work one show, it is thought they goodbye to us all when wrestling was will honour his legacy in some form at an taken off the air. He was given the chance upcoming show. to say something to the viewers at home. NWA (UK) Hammerlock promoter ‘ We are very very very sad that in Andre Baker said: “Very sad news, Knew the near future we will now no longer be Pat from working many of the same in your front parlour’ he announced. shows over the years for various ‘Pat was a true gentleman of the promoters, always found him to be a nice sport and always had a story to tell. The pleasant man who always seemed to have wrestling business is a sadder place now time for people.” he has gone.’ Keith Myatt added. Many will remember his battles This is only half the story though. with Kendo Nagasaki whose spokesperson He was of course, a mainstream name, said gave us this statement. not so much because of wrestling, but “As a member of Nagasaki's entourage I because of Bomber and various other have on occasion been in the opposing television and big screen appearances that corner in tag battles between Roach and 2/3 TheGrappling Times Nagasaki. Being a big man, Pat was very http://www.keithmyatt.vze.com/ intimidating to be stood near in the ring *********************************************** (to me, not to Nagasaki of course) and If you would like to send us news, show watching the two of them unleash their reports, interview requests, guest fury on each other was always fantastic to editorials, letters or general feedback watch. Needless to say I personally hid please write to at the back of the hall when the action [email protected]. was on. No danger of me being Also if you would like to read the accidentally involved. Outside the ring I past archives of the Grappling Times they always found Pat to be very chatty and are all available on our web site that can totally committed to British wrestling. be found at Personally, I was a big fan of Auf http://www.grapplingtimes.co.uk this site Wiedersehen Pet from the original series you can also sign up for our mailing list in 1983 to the latest episodes. It is very and you will hear all the latest news sad that we will never again see Bomber regarding the Grappling Times before with his pals up to mischief in some anyone else. foreign corner. Pat was also a driving Please note that this publication is force behind the popular wrestlers considered copyright of the editor and reunions and sometimes I believe used his individual writer and no portion of the own personal cash to ensure facilities were Grappling Times may be copied or up to scratch on the day.