‘Putting others first is second nature to Tony’
Reporter GATESHEAD hero Tony Davis’s former amateur boxing coach has spoken of his pride at his friend’s efforts to save a police officer during the Westminster terror attack.
Boxing coach Ronnie Rowe describing Tony as the “man you want on your side” in that type of situation.
Tony, originally from Low Fell, was at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday with the GB amateur boxers when a man attacked a police officer with a knife outside of Parliament after driving into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
Tony jumped a fence to get to PC Keith Palmer and helped to perform CPR before paramedics arrived
Boxing coach Ronnie, who has trained youths in the region for more than 30 years, also trained Tony before forming a friendship with him that led to Ronnie becoming godparent to one of Tony’s children. Ronnie told The Chronicle: “I’ve known Tony for many years. He was boxing for the Army then left and came to box for me. He was a top boxer.
“I’m absolutely proud of him. Knowing what he’s like, in a situation like that he is the man you want on your side.
“Being an ex-serviceman it’s obviously part and parcel of what you do – he would have reacted quickly.
“He’s a community-minded person who would always react in that situation – when everyone’s running away he would always be the one to try and take action.”
The pair’s relationship started at Birtley Amateur Boxing Club. Ronnie now trains professional boxers at Gateshead’s Fighting Chance gym.
Tony, meanwhile, went on to have a career in the military and now coaches boxing for Team GB, partly due to the influence of his friend Ronnie.
Ronnie said: “We still keep in touch with each other even though he lives away now and I’m just really proud of him.
“It’s just sad that unfortunately the police officer was unable to be saved and my thoughts go out to his family.” A NEWCASTLE Muslim community leader has admitted that when he first heard of the Westminster terrorist attack he hoped it had not been carried out by a Muslim.
After first offering his sympathies for the victims, city councillor Dipu Ahad expressed his fears about the possible backlash the Muslim community could suffer in the wake of the atrocity, which has so far claimed the lives of four innocent people and injured 28.
It is believed the attack was carried out by a UK-born Muslim who was shot and killed by police. Mr Ahad said: “What has happened was a barbaric act.
““When I first heard about it, my instant reaction was, ‘I hope it’s not a Muslim.’
“These delusional terrorists think by causing carnage they are seeking martyrdom. Well as a Muslim I believe that by killing innocent people their abode is hell.
“They will not divide us, as this is exactly their agenda, and we will continue building bridges and breaking barriers, no matter how long it takes. The knock-on effects are felt throughout the UK. In the North East, after each attack, you see the paranoia levels about Muslims grow.
“This is what the terrorists want to happen. They are trying to break up community cohesion.”
Mr Ahad said there will be a meeting of Muslim community leaders in the North East in the near future at which the issue will be discussed.