FORMER professional wrestler Alfred Haddrell, also known as The Maverick, died at his home in Chippenham on Sunday from sudden heart failure at the age of 74.

Born on September 2, 1942, in Neston, Mr Haddrell was the son of Ernest and Eunice and grew up with two brothers and a sister.

He attended Neston School and worked on a local farm before becoming a lorry driver, but his life changed forever when he attended a boxing match in Cardiff.

“He had been somewhere in Cardiff watching a fight and got into some trouble with some guys and one of the promoters saw how he handled himself and said why don’t you become a wrestler,” said his wife, Jenny.

Mr Haddrell’s wrestling career took him across the country but he performed locally as well, including a bout at the Neeld in Chippenham in 1972, before retiring in 1992 due to injury.

He married his third wife, Jenny, on October 24, 2011, which was covered by the Gazette, after they met each other by chance on a Fairsaver bus.

“I first met him years ago at a wrestling match but we lost touch as he was travelling around the country but I came back from Spain and we met each other on a local bus in Chippenham,” she said.

“He was very interested in Brunel and local history and he used to give talks.

“Everybody loved him and he was a gentle giant.”

He is survived by his wife, Jenny, son, James, three daughters, a step-son and step-daughter.

His funeral will take place at West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington at a date to be confirmed but donations can be made to Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Dorothy House.