A GENTLE giant who went from being a professional wrestler to a committed carer, while also supplying the world’s first white football boots, has died.

Ian Glasper died on Wednesday after falling ill while driving his car in Westgate, Weardale, County Durham.

The 73-year-old grandfather, from Ireshopeburn, in Upper Weardale, was described as a gentle giant and larger than life character by those who knew him.

Mr Glasper started wrestling in the Durham Light Infantry before deciding to take it up as a profession.

He juggled touring the country with work as a PE teacher at Ferryhill Grammar School between 1964 and 1974, before setting up his own wrestling company, Europa Promotions.

His wrestling career took him from fairgrounds to arenas and he worked with some of the time’s stars including Big Daddy, Luke McMasters and Gil Singh.

He was good friends with Harold Sakata, better known as Oddjob in the James Bond movie Goldfinger, and worked in the film industry as a fight co-ordinator on Big Man, which starred Liam Neeson.

Mr Glasper also set up Dunelm Sports Ltd which, while working for Hummel, provided the world’s first white football boots to Everton star Alan Ball, kickstarting a trend for multi-coloured boots still going strong today.

Mr Glasper is survived by his wife, Marjorie, to whom he was married for 53 years, their daughter, Suzanne, and grandson William.

The family had just moved back into their home after the property was flooded by a ruptured main water pipe back in August, severely damaging the ground floor and garden and destroying many items of sentimental value.

Mr Glasper had painstakingly rebuilt his beloved garden himself, including the construction of a mini dry stone wall and rockery.

Ms Glasper said her father would do anything to help anyone and he had been known to hike through snowstorms to reach vulnerable people living in higher parts of the dale while working as a carer.

She said: "He cared a lot about people and was a very strong character and person. He was a very popular man and was always interested in sports, right from his school days.

"It was just in his character to help people, he enjoyed it. PE and teaching were a big part of his life and he was particularly good with children who had behavioural problems."

Tributes were also paid to Mr Glasper by his former boss and those who knew him through wrestling.

Philip Shellhorn, from Ferryhill, who was inspired to wrestle by Mr Glasper, said: "He was a great guy, I was there when he bought his first, blood smattered ring, and he showed me how to wrestle from where I went on to fight all over the country. He will be missed."

Mr Glasper worked as a carer for Applejack Home Care, in Stanhope, for the last nine years, predominantly looking after people in isolated villages.

Manager Venita Pattinson said staff and clients were shocked and saddened by his death.

She said: "He was a smasher of a man, a true gentleman, so well loved and thought of by everyone here.

"He was a true carer, last winter he walked eight miles through the snow to see one of his regular clients, he thought nothing of it.

"We are so proud of him and so sad that he is not with us any more."