[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”17611″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]WAW was saddened by the loss of another longtime face at many of our shows when news broke that James Gray passed away last month. Although it had been a while since James last worked with us at the time of his passing, many of his images are still used in WAW and Bellatrix promotional materials to this day, including on this very website.
James was a top-notch photographer who worked with WAW and Bellatrix for many years, serving as our primary photographer at hundreds of events, including many of our major shows at Epic Studios between 2012 and 2018. You can find a selection of James’ work at the bottom of this page.
Before joining us as a photographer, James first attended WAW shows to watch his son Scott wrestle as Dynamo Gray. Scott who is currently an active wrestler on the WAW Academy roster, and a former WAW Academy and Academy Tag Team Champion, wanted us to share these words about his father:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”17620″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Although myself and Dad had an up and down relationship, he is the only person who always stood by me and watched me do all the things I loved doing: my wrestling career, tennis, and football. He will be truly missed and never be forgotten, always in our hearts. Hopefully my Dad will always be with me at shows, still watching over myself and all the others as we perform. Your family will always love you and miss you, Dad. Sleep tight, you’re at peace now.
Backstage, James was much-loved as a kind-hearted and jovial spirit whose contributions made preparing for shows that little bit easier. But it was at ringside that James did his best work, chronicling the events of each contest one snapshot at a time. In that time, James in an envied position as a first-hand witness to several significant moments in WAW history and snap some of the biggest names in wrestling.
Before we relocated to the current WAW Academy & Performance Centre, our Academy shows were held at the Breckland Community Centre in Costessey. There, James could be found setting up by the ringside entrance, preparing himself to capture every moment of the evening and further contributing to the event with his portable sound system playing wrestlers’ entrance music as they made their way to the ring.
Outside of wrestling, James’ photography talents were in high demand, with shoots across the United Kingdom and in the United States.
At 8.15am on Friday 19th March, James’ family and friends honoured his life by lighting candles in his memory. His family are taking donations to raise funds for a plaque in his memory.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1620141853200-89941670-958e-5″ include=”17633,17613,17614,17629,17628,17630,17615,17627″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
