LONDON CALLING
All the news from the latest LEBA monthly meeting
SADLY, London EBA Chairman Charlie Wright couldn’t make this month’s meeting. A damaged ankle – which had meant he was in constant pain while chairing September’s meeting – worsened, and he suffered a fall at home. Charlie has done an enormous amount for London, and the EBA movement generally – for which he has been inducted into the British Ex-boxers’ Hall of Fame. Everyone wishes him a full and speedy recovery.
Committee member Bob Cheeseman took over the chair, and did a fine job. Bob and Dougie Donaghey are organising a fundraising Golf Day for Charlie Wynn, to be held at Selsdon Park Golf Course (near Croydon) next Wednesday (October 30). Many champions and LEBA members will be playing in teams, and others will be attending the dinner in the evening. This is the same venue as the Freddie
Mills Centenary Golf Day and Dinner in June, and that was a huge success. Let’s hope this event goes every bit as well. For further information, contact Bob (0776 869 7929) or Doug (0794 929 9722). The latest news on Charlie is that he has been moved to a rehabilitation centre in Kent, and is doing well. His family describe him as “a determined and strong-willed young man,” and everyone hopes these qualities will get him though his toughest battle.
As so often, a minute’s silence was held for people who had passed on, and in his President’s Report, Stephen Powell paid his own tribute to them. He described Harry Hillier as a very good member from many years back, and mentioned his distinguished World War II career with the Marines. About Terry Giles he said, “Boxing was his life” – after hanging up his gloves he became a judge and referee, and would return to the UK for boxing events even after moving to Spain.
He paid tribute to late member (and former amateur boxer) Ernie Hatton, who was 90 and had been living in Suffolk – and boxing writers Neil Allen and Ken Jones. And he had a lot to say about former committee member Colin Hayday, who, along with late twin brother John, had had a long amateur career. Stephen described Colin as a “character” – if you wanted a favour, Colin would do anything for you. There was certainly a good turnout at Colin’s funeral – LEBA members I saw (apologies if I’ve missed anyone) were Stephen Powell, committee members Barbara O’sullivan, Lee Rosen and Joe Looker, LEBA Vice-president and former British featherweight champion Sammy Mccarthy, Sam Soraf, Doreen Barclay, Claudia Keston and Terry Bay. Colin also
belonged to Essex EBA, and Chairman Tom Burling and Secretary Raymond Lee came to pay their respects. “Colin was a great member,” Ray said. “If he missed a meeting it was either because he was ill or because he was in Thailand!”
The current Brighton EBA Newsletter includes a tribute to Colin, which was a nice gesture, and there’s also an interesting piece on the great Alexis Arguello, Nicaragua’s three-weight world champion. Incidentally, Brighton will be holding their Christmas party on Sunday December 8 at their HQ – The Romans, 33 Manor Hall Road, Southwick. The Home Counties EBA party takes place one week later (December 15) at Bricket Wood Sports & Social Club, Oak Avenue, Bricket Wood, St. Albans.
Back to the London meeting, and Mike Taub gave his monthly update on the LEBA Young Guns. Like most EBAS, London support today’s local fighters – as I’ve said before, it’s vital that EBAS show they’re concerned with present-day boxing, not simply reminiscing about the past.
Several LEBA members attended promoter Mo Prior’s recent show at York Hall, supporting Young Gun Simon Corcoran, who scored his fourth straight win.
Stephen Powell stressed, again, what a great day the British Ex-boxers’ Hall of Fame was, and there’s a similarly glowing report in the Brighton Newsletter. There was general cynicism when the idea was first mooted – but it’s gone from strength to strength.
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