This Blackpool Mason will not be wrestling with the Ritual.

On the 2^nd of December, 2009, at the Masonic Hall, Adelaide Street, Blackpool,

Brother Tony Duigan was installed into the Chair of Loyalty Lodge No. 7332.

The meeting was attended by over 60 brethren. But how many of these knew of the sporting history of the new Master and his connections with a Blackpool wrestling icon, the Doncaster Panther, or as he was better known, Dirty Jack Pye?

Jack had escaped a life down the Doncaster pits by becoming a professional wrestler and went on to become one of the greatest names in modern day wrestling.

Tony Duigan, was known to grappling fans as Tony Francis and is a man well remembered from the wrestling era of BIG DADDY and GIANT HAYSTACKS.

Although it was many years before Tony was born it would be the same Jack Pye that played an influential part in the professional life of Tony.

In 1950 Jack Pye moved his family to live in Blackpool, and it was in Blackpool that Jack became close friends with Tony’s father.

To the wrestling fraternity Jack was known as Dirty Jack Pye. It mattered none that Jack was booed and jeered by everyone in the hall. Dirty Jack Pye would parade the ring sneering and taunting the crowd, working the audience into frenzy. To the young Tony, Jack was a super hero.

When Jack was next wrestling at the Blackpool Tower, and knowing of Tony’s keen interest, Jack invited Tony to assist him as his ring second, and from that time on right through the 1950s Tony became Jacks regular second. The wrestling bug had now bit.

Tony now pestered Jack to help him become a professional wrestler. Jack and his famous wrestling son Dominic Pye did train youngsters. But Jack decided that Tony had to prove himself at the best place possible, the legendary, Billy Riley’s in Wigan.

The nightmare began.

Billy Riley’s Gym afectionally Known as the Snake Pit, gave Tony a very hard introduction into the world of the professional wrestler, but after being hurt, battered and bleeding, Tony passed the test with honours.

1969 saw the year in which Tony’s dream became a reality, he joined the professional ranks. 1970 saw an ironic twist of fate, Tony was matched in the same ring as his hero,

Dirty Jack Pye. (It has to be said that Jack was making a short lived comeback and was well past his prime)

For two decades Tony worked for the top wrestling promoters and was a frequent opponent to Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks and his career was to take him into Europe and across the Atlantic.

During his career Tony wrestled at all the top venues in this country including, the famous Blackpool Tower, the Manchester Belle Vue stadium and the Royal Albert Hall in London.

One night at the Belle Vue centre which was billed as “A night of Blood, Sweat and Speedway” and on conclusion of all the bouts, there was to be a parade of the Stars.

Fans and wrestlers stood and applauded as the spotlight shone on the Doncaster Panther, Jack Pye.

Jack was by then 77 years old and in poor health.

 He was pushed slowly towards the ring in a wheelchair, the journey made even more difficult by the enthusiastic crown all wanting to get close to the legend.

Jack Pye could not have made that journey without the help of his young friend chosen to push the chair, Tony Francis.

 A Photo of W.Bro.Tony Duigan, a.k.a. Tony Francis,

 In his professional wrestling days