Johnny Kincaid

Johnny was born in Battersea in 1945 and brought up from 12 to 15½ in a children’s home. He was a professional wrestler and moved to Milton Keynes, to Fishermead, in 1976 because it was more convenient for northern venues. He became licensee of The Bow Bells on the Lakes Estate in May 1983, after a hip replacement operation. He moved on to The Bletchley Arms, which was a lot bigger, in November the same year. He had several well-know TV wrestlers at the opening. He went back to The Bow Bells when The Bletchley Arms was closed to deal with a rat problem. He continued to do some wrestling, including in Hamburg.

He started fund-raising for White Spire School after meeting two women who had been in the same children’s home as him. Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, a friend, helped. He went back to The Bletchley Arms when it was refurbished and rebranded as Kincaid’s. After 2½ years he took on The Bow Bells as well in an informal arrangement. He left the pub chain, Grand Metropolitan, when he was not given a bonus for The Bow Bells. Punch offered him The Bradwell Monk, which was haunted. He was there for a year and then was banned from holding a license in Buckinghamshire for five years after injuring a customer whilst restraining him.

He returned to Milton Keynes towards the end of that time and took a ten-year lease on The London Pride. He gave it up after nine and a half years, partly because of health problems. He took out a licence that enabled him to provide relief cover. He still did some fete openings.

He liked Milton Keynes and felt that it liked him. He used to like walking his dog in the parks. His proudest achievement was bringing his name to the fore.