OLYMPIC medal-winning wrestler Kenneth Richmond, who became a screen icon as the man who banged the gong for J Arthur Rank films, has died at his home in Christchurch at the age of 80.

After winning bronze medals in the 1950 Empire Games and the Melbourne Olympics two years later, Mr Richmond took the heavyweight gold medal at the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.

That year he also struck the gong for the famous Rank film sequence, when the previous black and white performance by Bombardier Billy Wells was reshot in colour.

A colourful character in real life, Mr Richmond also appeared in many films as an extra and appeared in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-reigning British wrestling champion - despite a strongly held dislike of violence which saw him jailed during the Second World War as a conscientious objector.

But he gave up the bright lights and sporting life to become a Jehovah's Witness in 1967 and served as a missionary in Malta and later as a district overseer travelling widely in the UK.

Widowed 10 years ago, Mr Richmond remained fit and active - windsurfing and roller blading into his 70s - until chest injuries suffered in a serious car accident in 2001 left him with breathing problems.

He moved to Christchurch two years ago to be closer to long-time friends Chris and Carmen Saunders at New Milton, and it was they who found him dead at the quayside property on Thursday.

Mr Saunders said: "It was a bit of a shock. He was truly an extraordinary man who did so many different things."

The funeral for Mr Richmond, who is survived by a step-daughter, is expected to be held at the Christchurch Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Purewell on Friday.