Jack Taylor

Jack Taylor was a member of the famous Taylor wrestling family from Bradford. His father Tom was British featherweight champion in 1938 and his uncle Joe, who competed in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, was also a British champion, as was Jack’s cousin Eric. Jack’s brother Barry was a Yorkshire champion. His nephew, Dave Taylor, had a thirty year career as a professional wrestler including time with the World Wrestling Federation in the USA.

Coached by his father, Jack won the British lightweight title in 1956 and he was selected for the Melbourne Olympics that year where he reached the third round. With him and his wife having a new baby at the time of the Games, the Lord Mayor of Bradford launched a fund, on the announcement of Taylor’s selection, to help the family while he was in Australia for six weeks. The Mayor was Herbert Walker, a water polo referee and timekeeper at the 1948 London Olympics.

Taylor started his sporting career as a boxer in the Sea Cadets before joining the Windmill Club, Bradford, and taking up wrestling, and going on to win many Yorkshire titles. Taylor was a master builder but during his two years National Service, was a physical training instructor in the Army. He spent some time as a wrestling coach at the Leeds Athletic Institute, but continued in the building trade, until long after retirement age.