Tributes paid to Henry Shirlow

Henry, a diabetes sufferer who was in his early 70s of Ballycolin Road, Dunmurry died on Monday at hospital.

The funeral was held at Elwood and Capper Ltd, Funeral Church, Dunmurry for service at Derriaghy Church followed by a committal in the adjoining churchyard.

The one time former Heavyweight Champion, was one of the most famous wrestlers in Northern Ireland. He was a television engineer with Manchester Midlands in Lisburn and became a wrestler in the 1960s. He not only fought against some of the big named wrestlers but beat the likes of Giant Haystacks during a famous match at Glenmore Activity Centre, leaving Haystacks with a broken foot.

As a wrestling promoter, he also got some of the big names to wrestle in Northern Ireland.

He also encouraged a young army physical trainer, Billy Joe Beck, to join the wrestling sport which was a huge phenomenon at the time. As a result both toured England and did numerous television shows together from the 1970s until 1988.

“Henry was a smart fellow,” remembers Billy Joe, now manager with Derriaghy charity RAMS (Race Against Multiple Sclerosis): “He had a real business head on him and was a really nice guy. He could sell snow to the Eskimos. He was very much a likeable character and very popular.

“He was a good build of a man, broad shoulders and very strong,” said Billy Joe who himself became a middle weight and welterweight champion.

“It was thanks to him that I got involved in wrestling.

“I would definitely never have got involved with the wrestling without Henry.

“We toured England. We had some good times. It became a way of life to do our shows for two to three weeks at a time before we got home. Wrestling became part of our life.”

Henry promoted the sport and brought big names to the likes of the Millbrook Lodge and Enniskillen Leisure Centre. He also ran the gymnasium at La Mon House and Elim Church.

In the 1980s he ran a roller skating rink at Seymour Street, believed to be the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

Former Alderman Ivan Davis said that he was saddened to hear the passing of Mr Shirlow.

“He was a real character,” he said. “He was respected and he represented the very best what life could offer.”