Biografia

Was the last man seen banging the gong at the start of all J. Arthur Rank films, from 1955. He succeeded the earlier strongmen Carl Dane, Bombardier Billy Wells, and Phil Nieman.

Went to prison during the Second World War because he was a conscientious objector

Won a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling as a super heavyweight at the Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952; gold medalist as heavyweight at 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Shortly before his death, he disclosed to friends that the giant gong he struck at the opening of J Arthur Rank films was actually made of papier-mache.

He started out as a deckhand on whaling ships in the Antarctic. Since he was a teetotaller, he gave his rum rations to shipmates who were affected by being at sea for up to nine months at a time. Later in life, he enjoyed windsurfing, winning a medal at the age of 67.