FRIENDS REUNITED
Bournemouth EBA’S latest offering a great success
THE Bournemouth EBA Reunion and Trophy Presentation on July 28 went very well. “We had about 50 people attending,” Chairman David Toohig said.
“As well as our group, which included Honorary Vice-president Sparrow Harrison MBE – who made the trip from from Denbigh, Wales, more than 200 miles – Karen and Terry Knight and Jimmy Butler came from Brighton, and Martin and Jo Williams and Kevin Hayde came from Wales. Plus our winners, their friends and families.
“Michael Hinton outlined the judging process and the reasons for our choice of winners, and our President, David Fry, presented the trophies - Raven Chapman, Senior, and Baileigh Hibbs, Junior. Raven said she really appreciated the encouragement and recognition that we give through this trophy. She is dividing her time between university and training, and has her focus firmly set on the next Olympics, so we will be following her progress closely. David Fry also presented Mick Evans with a Manor Place Baths medal. Old acquaintances were renewed when Alan Honniball from our group and Martin Williams from Wales met – they hadn’t seen each other for about 15 years, but got to know each other when they both worked for the British Boxing Board.
Sparrow Harrison said: “It was well worth coming all that way. I had a great time. The ex-boxers’ world is very special. It’s like an old soldiers’ reunion – we have had to face fear, and we share great mutual respect and humour.
“I feel very honoured to be an Honorary Vice-president as I have done nothing to deserve it except get beaten by a lot of Bournemouth boxers!”
I’m delighted it all went so well – as did the Home Counties’ EBA annual Barbecue the previous weekend. “There was upwards of 450 people present,” Membership Secretary Terry Clarke said. “We had coach parties from Leicester and Brighton, and a group from Essex: Michael and Bill Smith from Suffolk: and many from London. Our two chefs worked tirelessly, satisfying the hungry hordes, Our DJ, the Pink Panther, played the right mix of music. Our raffle raised in excess of £1,200, which of course we will distribute among many worthy causes. Our Chairman, Bob Williams, worked his usual magic as auctioneer, extracting £820 from the gathering. It was really great to see so many happy people enjoying themselves – particularly having Herol ”Bomber” Graham with us, looking well on the way to recovery from illness,
I would like to thank everyone who made it such a memorable day.”
Two successful functions – both well supported by other EBAS. As I’ve said before, that makes such a difference.
Congratulations to Essex EBA on celebrating their fourth anniversary recently. When they started some EBAS were having problems with dwindling memberships but Essex have gone from strength to strength – it was founded by members of London EBA, and many of their members belong to both. Essex meet on the third Sunday of the month at the Naval and Military Club, 20 Royal Terrace, Southend-on-sea.
They have a new President, Dave Porter, who takes over from Lennie Wilson. The current issue of their newsletter, Punch Lines, has a fascinating article on former leading promoter Jack Solomons. I didn’t know that Jack boxed as a teenager (as Kid Mears), or that he appeared as a castaway on Desert Island Discs (in 1957).
The Merseyside Former Boxers’ Association’s newsletter, Mug’s Alley, is always another good read. The August issue includes an interesting piece on promoter Johnny Best Snr, who “saved boxing in Liverpool,” promoting 113 shows at the Pudsey Street Stadium between January 1929 and March 1931.
The article mentions many of the local favourites who regularly appeared on Johnny’s shows, such as Nel Tarleton, Dom Volante and Alf Howard.
Merseyside’s next meeting will be at The Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool (Crosby Suite) at 11.30 on Sunday September 2.
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