Northwick Park hospital porter Steve Lee Curtis has received a long service award in recognition of his contribution to professional wrestling.
Steve, 65, was a prominent figure during the golden era of British wrestling in the 1970s and 80s, competing alongside well-known names such as Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks and Rollerball Rocco. He began wrestling at the age of 13 and went on to become the British Little Middleweight Champion in 1987.
“I loved every minute of it,” said Steve, who would wrestle up to five times a week at various shows around the country and was crowned national champion in 1987.
“I used to wrestle every week and would often have a bout after work if I was on the early shift. I came to A&E as a patient myself on several occasions after picking up various injuries in the ring.”
His interest in wrestling began after a suggestion from a wrestler who encouraged him to give it a try. After volunteering at a training session, Steve was quickly introduced to the reality of the sport.
“I just remember landing on my back with a real thwack and being surprised how much it hurt.”
Despite breaking his nose on two early visits, Steve continued with the sport and made his professional debut just a year later. He initially performed under the name Steve Silverman, later changing it to Steve Silver and eventually Steve Lee Curtis – a name inspired by the actor Tony Curtis.
Now working at Northwick Park Hospital, Steve’s decades-long involvement in wrestling has earned him a long service award acknowledging his commitment and achievements in the sport.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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