TAKE A BOW
Some exceptional work over the festive period from the EBAS MANY readers will know the name of Charlie Mitchell, who challenged for the world heavyweight title under both London Prize Ring and Queensberry rules.
Mitchell was a long-time resident of Brighton and Hove, and Robbie Benson contacted me to say that he and fellow Brighton EBA member Tommy Mellis recently had his grave cleaned and renovated in Hove Cemetery, where he is buried with his son. “We felt that his grave needed tending as a mark of respect to one of the greats of English boxing.”
Robbie went on to quote from Mitchell’s obituary in the Brighton Herald, which described Charlie as “well-known locally, having spent a great deal of his time in Brighton since his retirement from the ring.” He certainly does deserve to be commemorated, so well done to Robbie and Tommy for taking the initiative.
Brighton’s Christmas party last month was highly successful and very well supported, despite the bad weather. Croydon Chairman Barry Penny made the trip down, together with President Bill Caswell and Vice-president Dave Mccarthy, and Barry confirmed it was a great day – “very good atmosphere, very friendly.” Home Counties Chairman Bob Williams also came all the way from St Albans.
Secretary Jane Davison told me that several personalities from local amateur clubs also came. Brighton City ABC always has a Christmas collection, and this year, boosted by what the Brighton Argus described as a “generous donation” from Brighton EBA, presents and Christmas dinners were provided for 35 underprivileged families from the Brighton and Hove area. Well done to everyone concerned, and both these stories provide further examples of an EBA doing something not just for themselves, but for boxing in general and also their local community.
Ipswich EBA are keen supporters of their local amateurs, and last month some of their members attended the annual Harwich BC show – “which we always look forward to with anticipation,” secretary Erik Roper said. “The event didn’t disappoint, with 16 evenly contested bouts.”
Erik praised the organisational and match-making skills of the Harwich Elite Head Coach, Martin Webb, “who never fails to deliver. His club is very well-run, and the fighters that he produces are fine ring technicians.
“We have supported his club for some years, and proudly sponsor a club trophy
named after Smiler Perkins, one of our past secretaries.
“I think it’s vitally important that EBAS support clubs at grass-roots level, as a way of putting something back into the game – not to mention the possibility of gaining the odd new member!”
That’s so true – and there’s also the fact that, by giving this kind of support, EBAS are showing that they’re not rooted in the past but certainly care about, and are involved in, boxing today.
Croydon EBA were sorry recently to lose long-time member Teddy Gardner, who had been battling dementia for some time.
Teddy boxed as a welter and middleweight between 1952 and 1963, taking part in 31 contests. After retiring, he stayed involved in the game as a manager and later a referee.
I recall seeing Teddy in action as a ref at Grosvenor House in June 1993. Crawley’s Michael Alldis – who would later become British and Commonwealth super-bantam champ – was up against Adey Benton, and looking to score his fifth straight win. But Benton was floored in the third by an accidental low blow, and Teddy disqualified Alldis.
He confided afterwards that he wasn’t happy about it – he knew Alldis hadn’t fouled his man deliberately – but rules were rules, and he had to abide by them. I respected him for that.
Teddy and his wife, Jean, were regulars at Croydon EBA for years. They moved to Great Yarmouth for a while, but kept in touch with their friends from Croydon, and later moved back, and started attending meetings again. Sadly, Teddy lost Jean to cancer some years ago – an illness she battled bravely, without complaint.
Teddy’s funeral will be held at Croydon Crematorium this coming Monday (January 15), at 12 noon.