Profiles: Jimmy Niblett - the man of granite

Jimmy Niblett - the man of granite

Jimmy Niblett is an inspirational example to all who know him. Over eighty now, Jimmy is still known to climb Bolton’s Winter Hill every Sunday.

Jimmy was a champion Lancashire amateur wrestler. His work in the quarry, lifting fifty to sixty tonnes a day, helped toughen him up – as did training five nights a week.

Having learned amateur wrestling at Bolton Olympic Wretling Club, Jimmy was invited by Billy Riley to train at his gym. In Jimmy’s own words, the wrestlers in Wigan were ‘terrible ‘ard’. Being used to the amateur style, Jimmy wasn’t familiar with the submission moves being taught at Riley’s.

Having served in the second world war and participating in the D-Day landings, Jimmy returned to the UK looking for a way to earn money. The mines paid for a while – but Jimmy soon found that the popularity of professional wrestling offered him the chance of a more prosperous future.

Wrestling as 'Bob Sherry' or 'Killer James', Jimmy travelled the world and was widely recognised for his skill and strength. In later years, Jimmy maintained his super-fitness through taking up fell running.

In Jimmy Niblett we see the integral links between Lancashire wrestling’s professional and amateur traditions.

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