Christopher Priest is a British novelist and science fiction writer. His works include Fugue for a Darkening Island, The Inverted World, The Affirmation, The Glamour, The Prestige, and The Separation.
Francis Patrick Roach was an English professional wrestler, martial artist and actor. During an acting career between the 1970s and the 1990s, he appeared in multiple films, usually as a henchman, due to his large size. He appeared in the Indiana Jones film series, as the West Country bricklayer Brian "Bomber" Busbridge in the 1980s British television series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, and in the role of Petty Officer Edgar Evans in the television production The Last Place on Earth.
Martin Austin Ruane was an English professional wrestler of Irish parentage, best known by the ring name Giant Haystacks. He was one of the best-known wrestlers on the British wrestling scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He also worked in both Canada and the United States under the name Loch Ness Monster or simply Loch Ness.
William Dee Calhoun was an American professional wrestler, who used the professional name "Haystack" or "Haystacks" Calhoun.
Adrian Street is a retired Welsh professional wrestler and author known for his flamboyant, androgynous wrestling persona, brought to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. Street was often accompanied to the ring by his long-time manager and wife Miss Linda, and the two worked primarily as heels.
Malcolm Kirk was an English professional wrestler who went by the ring name of "King Kong" Kirk as well as Kojak Kirk, Killer Kirk and "Mucky" Mal Kirk. He started as a professional rugby league player before becoming a professional wrestler. Kirk died of a heart attack on 23 August 1987 after collapsing in the ring during a tag team match at the Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. The wrestling event was run by Joint Promotions with the main event being a tag team match between Kirk and King Kendo against Big Daddy and Greg Valentine in front of 1,500 people.
The British (Open) Tag Team Championship is the top tag team championship contested for throughout the British wrestling circuit. It is currently being contested for in Brian Dixon's All Star Wrestling.
Bartolomeo "Bert" Assirati, was an English professional wrestler who became a multiple-time British Heavyweight Champion, and, posthumously, a charter member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. He was known for displaying various feats of strength, including setting a British record in 1938 by lying on his back, and pulling over at arm's length a 200-pound barbell. At 240 pounds, Assirati was one of the heaviest men to perform the iron cross.
Gordon Burn was an English writer born in Newcastle upon Tyne and the author of four novels and several works of non-fiction.
Simon Frank Garfield is a British journalist and non-fiction author.
Simon Reynolds is an English music journalist and author who began his professional career on the staff of Melody Maker in the mid-1980s. He has since gone on to freelance and publish a number of full-length books on music and popular culture, ranging from historical tomes on rave music, glam rock, and the post-punk era to critical works such as Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past (2011).
Profile Books is a British independent book publishing firm founded in 1996. It publishes non-fiction subjects including history, biography, memoir, politics, current affairs, travel and popular science.
Mike Marino was an English professional wrestler and a leading name during the World of Sport era in British wrestling. At his death Marino was holder of the three Mid-Heavyweight titles active in Britain at the time. Mike Marino was cousin to fellow wrestler Joe D'Orazio
All-in wrestling was the first wave of professional wrestling in the United Kingdom to be based on the catch as catch can style of wrestling. It was conducted under the All-In rules of 1930 in which no holds were prohibited.
Joe D'Orazio was a British professional wrestler from the golden era. He was also a well known referee, presiding over bouts held in Blenheim Palace, Olympia, Cafe Royal & Lyceum Ballroom (London), Paisley Ice Rink, Paris, Belgium, Big Top Berlin and Big Top Hanover, King Hussein Stadium Jordan and Italy. For 20 years Joe D'Orazio was resident referee at the Royal Albert Hall tournaments.
Jayne Porter is an English female professional wrestler known by her ring name Klondyke Kate. She wrestled for All Star Wrestling, holding their British Women's Championship, which she won in a match featured in a BBC2 documentary. She also regularly wrestled on Welsh TV station S4C's Reslo wrestling show organised and presented by Orig Williams and managed male opponents of Big Daddy for wrestling shows screened on the two Scottish franchises of the ITV network in October 1990.
Paul Lincoln, better known by the ring name Dr. Death, was an Australian professional wrestler and promoter.
Max Gerald Crabtree was an English professional wrestler and promoter, known for working alongside his brother Shirley Crabtree, better known as Big Daddy.
Brian W. Crabtree is an English retired professional wrestler, referee and master of ceremonies, known for working alongside his brothers Shirley Crabtree, better known as Big Daddy, and promoter Max Crabtree in the British wrestling business.
Fiona Maddocks is a British music critic and author who specializes in classical music. Described as "one of the UK's leading writers and commentators on classical music", Maddocks has been chief music critic of The Observer since 2010. She held a central role in founding three media companies: BBC Music Magazine, Channel 4 and The Independent. Previously arts feature writer for the Evening Standard, Maddocks has also written for The Guardian and The Times. Her publications include a survey on the Medieval composer Hildegard of Bingen, a collection of interviews with Harrison Birtwistle, an anthology of 100 pieces recommended pieces, and a guide to 20th-century classical music.
