Freedom of borough honour for boxer Dai
A WELSH boxing hero will be posthumously honoured with Rhondda Cynon Taff’s highest accolade at a special ceremony this month.
David William Dower MBE, the Abercynon boxer known as Dai Dower, is one of the most celebrated figures in Welsh boxing, and it was agreed that he should receive the Freedom of Rhondda Cynon Taff accolade in March 2016 .
But the man who held British, Empire and European flyweight titles during the 1950s died on August 1 at the age of 83, with the council later announcing his family would be offered the Freedom of the County Borough award on his behalf.
A special event will honour Dower - who has a street named after him in Abercynon - on Friday, November 18. It will take place at Abercynon Community School.
The award is the highest accolade that the council can bestow, and is only ever presented to distinguished individuals and groups.
To date, The Royal Welsh, tenor Stuart Burrows OBE, the Miners of South Wales, writer Elaine Morgan OBE, the Welsh Guards and Bernard Baldwin MBE and Mathew James - the hero who survived the Tunisia terror attack - have been granted the honour.
Rhys Lewis, mayor of RCT, said: “I am delighted RCT council is to posthumously confer the Freedom of the County Borough in memory of Dai Dower - a name synonymous with the sport of boxing and the community of Abercynon, where he was born and lived - a place that forever held a special place in his heart.
“As a local boy, I grew up listening to stories of Dai Dower’s boxing achievements and prowess. Plans were in place to confer the Freedom of RCT upon him this year. Sadly the honour will now be bestowed posthumously. On behalf of the residents of RCT, I would like to express our most sincere condolences to the family of Dai Dower who will be joining us to celebrate his life and sporting achievements.”
After becoming Amateur Boxing Association flyweight champion, Dower was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1952 Olympic Games, held in Helsinki.
He turned professional in 1953 and became British Flyweight Champion, British Empire Champion and European Flyweight Champion before retiring from professional boxing.
In later life, he became Head of Sport at Bournemouth University, a post held for 21 years, and in June 1998 was awarded the MBE.