OLD WARRIORS REUNITED
A new section dedicated purely to the too-often ignored work of the EBAS
THERE was a good turnout at the London Ex-boxers Association’s October meeting – held, as usual, at 11am on the first Sunday of the month at The William Blake, Old Street. Going through the events of the past month, President Stephen Powell described the successful British Ex-boxers Hall of Fame and the BBBOFC Awards Dinner. “These events bring us [EBAS] together,” he said. “Each EBA has an entity of its own – but we’re one boxing family.”
Two people who definitely agreed were first-time visitors Andy Till and Winston (W.O.) Wilson. The two recalled their 10-rounder at Battersea Town Hall in November 1988, which Till won on points (“he bit me, so I bit him back!”) But, as Andy put it, simply but eloquently, “There’s no animosity out of the ring” – and, as I reported in BN, “Wilson’s reaction to the verdict was to join in the applause for Till, and shake him warmly by the hand.” And that’s what’s so great about boxing, which people outside the game find hard to understand – you can have an all-out war in the ring, and be the best of friends afterwards.
Till went on to become British superwelter champion – Wilson was a twoweight Southern Area champ. Both spoke warmly of the camaraderie at the LEBA meeting, and said they’d definitely come again. “I haven’t seen some of these guys for years,” Wilson said. “It really does rekindle memories.”
The “family” theme was taken up by member/author Melanie Lloyd, who regularly attends meetings and was launching her latest book, Sweet Fighting Men – Ring of Truth. “I love being in LEBA – it’s like one big family,” she said. Several of the fighters in the book – James Cook, Sylvester Mittee, Colin Lake and Johnny Kramer – were there to help with the launch.
Member John Trevor was selling special T-shirts on behalf of the Scottish Ex-boxers Association, who are raising money for a statue of the great Benny Lynch, whose life ended tragically at just 33. That’s a great initiative on the part of SEBA, and I’ll hope to publish more news of the campaign’s progress. Lynch was one of Scotland’s finest-ever fighters, and the honour is well deserved. And well done to John Trevor, and the London Association, for supporting Scotland in this way.
As I’ve said before, it’s vital that EBAS support one another. Memberships
generally are dwindling – so the way forward is for EBAS to visit one another, and attend one another’s functions. For instance, in the past few months, parties from Brighton and Bournemouth have attended Croydon EBA meetings, and were made thoroughly welcome – more people, more old friends, great atmosphere and more money for the raffle. Talking of dwindling memberships – it’s got to the stage where some EBAS have actually folded, which is terrible. So everyone at LEBA was delighted when Stephen announced that he had heard that Northampton EBA (which closed down a while ago) is looking to start up again. That’s great news, and I hope it happens – and, again, I’ll be pleased to publish any information I get.
Another example of EBAS doing something for one another – recently Essex EBA members Tom Burling and Raymond Lee produced a book (scrapbook style) detailing the career of LEBA member Johnny Pritchett, who reigned as British and Commonwealth middleweight titlist in the ‘60s. They’ve produced a number of these books, which are not only a delight to the fighters featured but have also sold well among members and enthusiasts.
It’s on us again – the Annual Boxing Memorabilia Fayre, this Saturday (October 14) at Dick Collins Hall, Redhill Street, London, NW1 4DJ. This is organised by LEBA committee member (and Home Counties EBA Treasurer) Chas Taylor – a recent ‘Lifetime Service’ inductee into the British EBA Hall of Fame – together with his wife, Kymberly. It opens at 1.30pm, and parking is free – and there will be many stalls selling a wide selection of memorabilia, including books, programmes, signed boxing gloves, T-shirts, robes, paintings and bric-abrac. Always a great get-together of fight people and fight fans!