Portsmouth cycling stalwart and ex-wrestler John Hayles – father of Rob – dies

John Hayles, father of Rob and a major figure in the Portsmouth cycling scene has died. Hayles’ colourful career also saw him wrestle professionally for 30 years under the stage name of John Kowalski.

The news was announced on Wednesday by the i-Team Cycling Club of which he was a founding member. In a Facebook post which has since attracted dozens of tributes, Guy Watson wrote:

“It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that I have just had a call from Rob Hayles, informing me that his dad John passed away in the early hours.

“I feel privileged to have been able to have had him as a friend and like many in the cycling scene, I owe him a lot – he was so generous with his time and would do anything to help.”

Watson also linked to a 2013 tribute to Hayles, which details how they came to form the club. That page also includes a newspaper article about Hayles’ wrestling days.

While still in his twenties, Hayles – then a promising sprinter and three-time Hampshire champion – was hit by another cyclist while stationary. He broke his arm in two places and during the subsequent gym work for his recovery developed a taste for wrestling.

After turning pro, Hayles travelled the world competing and on one occasion wrestled Harold Sakata, who played Oddjob in Goldfinger. His tag team partner was Pat Roach who appeared in Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

Hayles also appeared as an extra in The French Lieutenant’s Woman and apparently also featured on the front cover of a book called Saberlegs, according to his son.

Although my Dad never wrote a book. He looked a lot better than I did on the cover of someone else's. #saberlegs pic.twitter.com/94diS7SqVw

— Rob Hayles (@robhayles1) November 11, 2016