Farewell to our magnificent Orig; WRESTLERS TRIBUTE TO 'EL BANDITO'.

Byline: HYWEL TREWYN

WRESTLING stars joined family and friends to give Orig Williams - El Bandito - a hero's send-off at his funeral in Rhyl yesterday.

Around 500 people came to pay their respects to much-loved hard man of wrestling, football and boxing Orig, who died last week of a suspected heart attack aged 78.

The showman's daughter, actress and singer Tara Bethan, 26, described her much-travelled father as "a cultured man, much more than just a wrestler."

His family requested men wore colourful ties and ladies any colour clothing they chose, for the public service at Clwyd Street Chapel, Rhyl.

The son of a quarryman, Orig wasbrought up in Ysbyty Ifan, near Betws y Coed, but was renowned throughout North Wales and beyond.

He was also a long standing columnist for the Daily Post.

In an eulogy, friend and musician Rhys Jones described Orig as a "strong man and nationalist", who passionately loved Welsh culture, and who could equally reel out his favourite song lyrics, poetry or quotations from the Bible.

Throughout the hour-long service, Tara had her arm around mother Wendy's shoulders to comfort her.

Actor Dafydd Hywel read Mab y Bwthyn by Orig's favourite poet, Cynan and opera singer Shan Cothi sang Y Nefoedd.

Many of the wrestlers who attended were together for the first time in years and playfully grappled.

Among them were Jamaica Kid, Johnny Saint, Steve Taylor, Tina Starr, Klondyke Kate, Mitzi Muller, Rollerball Rocko, Johnny Palance, Eddy Hamill, Tony St Claire, Peter Nulty, Dave Finlay Snr, and Mad Monk Rasputin.

Also there was Orig's protege, Porthmadog's Celtic Warrior Barri Griffiths, who is due to join the WWE in the New Year. He said: "The sun has come out specially for Orig."

Dressed in a red coat, Klondyke Kate said: "Orig was the most magnificent man in the world."

A friend of Orig's, Arthur Edwards, 78, from Ysbyty Ifan said: "He was the boss of the gang and we looked up to him."

The Welsh dragon flag draped Orig's casket and on it were red roses and a bouquet of white flowers. His body was interred at the new cemetery, Rhuddlan.

Actor Dafydd Hywel said: "Whenever Orig and myself would enjoy a few pints we would talk about freedom fighters and plot the overthrow of the Welsh establishment!"

CAPTION(S):

The coffin of wrestling giant Orig Williams (left) was laid to rest yesterday The Jamaican Kid Mad Monk Rasputin The Celtic Warrior Orig's wife Wendy and daughter Tara Bethan Picture: JEFF PITT