This month would have marked the 80th anniversary for Southampton Show were it still running.

The show’s 40th birthday party swung into top gear on the common in July 1980 with events especially for the big boys.

Muscling in on the fun were the gentle giants of the horse world, while in the far from gentle wrestling ring the heavyweights battled it out.

In the dog show were more heavyweights – the Pyrenean Mountain dogs and St Bernards.

A packed show programme attracted more than 50, 000 people to the 40-acre show site during the weekend to see arena events, fashion shows, the spectacular Dancing Waters, stunt aerobatics, demonstrations, displays and exhibitions by more than 450 local organisations, associations and clubs besides 180 trade stands.

Daily Echo:

Tarzan also put in an appearance when wrestler Johnny “Tarzan” Wilson travelled from Fareham to prove he was king of the ring.