Joseph Reid (wrestler)

Joseph Reid (17 March 1905 – 8 February 1968) was an English wrestler. He was a champion in Lancashire style wrestling, a six-time British champion, a two-time British Empire Games medallist, European Championships bronze medallist, and represented Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Biography
Reid was born in Leigh, Lancashire and worked as a collier. Trained by fellow Leigh native, Harry Pennington, Reid became skilled in amateur and catch wrestling. He was a champion in Lancashire style wrestling (9 stone) and a six-time British bantamweight champion (58 kg) from 1930–1935.

In 1932, Reid competed in the freestyle bantamweight tournament of the Olympic Games. He was eliminated after losing two of his three matches in the freestyle bantamweight division and finished fifth over all.

At the 1930 Empire Games, Reid won the silver medal in the bantamweight class. He placed third at the 1933 European Championships and at the 1934 Empire Games. Shortly afterwards, he turned professional and continued wrestling well into the 1960s.

Reid served in the Second World War, and spent time as a prisoner of war in a Japanese-run internment camp. He later helped to train Scottish wrestler George Kidd. Reid's wrestling boots are now on display at the Leigh Harriers athletic club.