by Roberta McGee
Matthew Gilmour was born in 1932 in Old Cumnock. His father, Matthew McQuiston Gilmour, was a bus driver, and his mother, Jane Scott Jamieson, worked in a munitions factory during WW2. Matt had a brother Richard and a sister Jane.
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| Matthew McQuiston Gilmour - Photo courtesy of Anne Griffiths |
The Gilmour family lived at 44 Keir Hardie Hill, Cumnock. After WW2 Matt's parents decided to emigrate to Canada so that they could have a better life. On 24th November 1948 father Matthew sailed alone from Liverpool heading for Halifax, Canada, on "The Empress of France". He was followed on 7th July 1949 by his wife Jane, son Matthew and daughter Jane, on the "Aquitania" and the family settled into their new lives in Hamilton, Ontario. Matt found work in a sweetie factory and played competitive football before he enlisted in the military.
Matt spent five years with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and served in the Korean War which lasted from 25th June 1950 until 27th July 1953. He liked to tell the story of the time he was on a mission in Korea when he found he knew one of the British soldiers. They had been at Cumnock Academy together! When his time in the army ended Matt was at a loose end. He decided to capitalise on his boxing skills and joined a gym run by a former wrestler who took him under his wing when he recognised his natural abilities and wrestling became his way of life.
From 1959 to 1969 he wrestled under the name of Matt Gilmour/Gilmore and from 1970 to 1986 he wrestled under the name of Duncan McTavish, a name given to him in Vancouver by All-Star Wrestling co-owner Sandor Kovacs. All-Star Wrestling was a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Matt had other personae such as donning a mask as 'Hangman', Matt 'The Guillotine' Gilmour and as one of the 'El Santos', a masked tag team.
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| Photo Cumnock Connections |
The Superstars of Wrestling shows were filmed live for television and aired throughout Canada and parts of the USA. They attracted huge audiences. The shows were well hyped up and in the 1970s the Superstars adopted 1970s rock music into the programme. 'The Ox', by 'The Who' , becoming their theme song. Matt was a born showman, charismatic, likeable and with a good sense of humour and he knew how to work the crowd.
As Duncan McTavish he became a 'well kent' face in the wrestling circles. Wrestling world champion Gene Kiniski said of Matt:
"McTavish was pretty well a main eventer, or a semi-wind-up...He had the gimmick, the bagpipes and all that stuff. He had that Scottish brogue. He was just a little different, a world traveller. He was very easy to market."
Other descriptions of Duncan McTavish - (unsourced)
"Duncan McTavish was known for his 'Highland Fling', a signature move that combined agility, strength, and showmanship. In this manoeuvre, he would leap off the ropes, twirl mid-air, and deliver a powerful leg drop to his opponent. The crowd would erupt in cheers as he executed this dynamic move, paying homage to his Scottish heritage."
"Duncan McTavish's finishing move was the 'Celtic Hammer'. With thunderous force, he would lift his opponent onto his shoulders, showcasing his immense strength, and then slam them down to the mat. The impact left opponents dazed and often unable to continue, securing victory for McTavish".
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| Photo SLAM Wrestling |
Matt showed no fear even in the air. On 10th February 1969 Eastern Airlines Flight 950,originating from San Juan, Puerto Rico, destined for Miami, Florida and carrying 110 passengers, was hijacked. Among the passengers were pro-wrestlers Abdullah the Butcher and Duncan McTavish who had been appearing at a stint in Puerto Rico. The armed hijacker, Peter Alvarez, was a resident of San Juan, whose wife and children were living in Miami. He had an ailing father who lived in Cuba and he was desperate to see him, but relations between the USA and Cuba were at an all time low and he decided that the only way to get to Cuba was to hijack the aeroplane. He had taken control of the aeroplane an hour after take-off and forced the pilots to re-route the flight to Cuba. Abdullah and Duncan (Matt) became annoyed and, fearless, got up to confront the hijacker. A flight attendant managed to calm them down and persuaded them to return to their seats.
The flight attendant later gave a statement to reporters:
"They were cursing and said they wanted to get to the hijacker but I stopped in front of them, told them the man was armed and there were too many people on board to risk their lives".
Matt worked out of British Columbia where All-Star Wrestling was based. He had a farm there where he bred, raised and trained racehorses as well as continuing with his successful wrestling career. He wrestled in nearly every state in the USA.
In a 2006 interview with SLAM Wrestling (Horsing around with Duncan McTavish) he said:
"It was the horses that kept me sane, because my day was filled with animals and racing. It was exciting....[The promotion] got a lot of ink because I'd be racing horses that would be winning races. Then I'd rush over to the arena and wrestle, then rush back to Hastings Park. I was always on the move."
Matt moved back to Ontario to another farm where he continued to race horses. His ambition was to take one of his horses to Scotland to race in the Gold Cup at Ayr. Sadly the horse had an injury just before it was due to travel. Matt also promoted Country and Western shows. Although he main-evented against 'The Sheik' at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, eventually he was happy just to work the smaller Ontario arenas.
Matt passed away peacefully on 5th June 2011 at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario.
An interview with SLAM Wrestling sums up Matt's career in his own words:
"When you start to add it up it's a lot of abuse on your body, but it allowed me, a little guy from Scotland, to go all around to places I would never have been able to afford. To meet men like Joe Louis and Cassius Clay and Lou Thesz and Buddy Rogers - people that you hear of -allowed me to be with them. That would never have happened if it wasn't for wrestling."
Sources:
SLAM Wrestling - Horsing Around with Duncan McTavish
Georgia Wrestling
