IN MEMORIAM
LEBA pay tribute to valued members who have sadly passed away
THERE’S always a great atmosphere at London Ex-boxers’ Association meetings, but this month it was tinged with sadness at the loss of two stalwarts, Mickey O’sullivan and Di Toohey. LEBA President Stephen Powell knew them well, and I’m grateful to him for giving me comprehensive tributes to both.
Mickey, who was 89, had been battling dementia for several years. He was one of 11 children (seven boys), and he and two of his brothers, Danny and Dickie, were known as “The Fighting O’sullivans” in the 1940s and ‘50s. Danny won the British bantamweight title and challenged for European and world honours; Dickie won a British flyweight title eliminator and twice boxed for the European belt. Mickey, a featherweight, boxed professionally from 1949 to 1955, winning 25 and drawing five of 39 contests.
He joined LEBA in the early 1970s, and soon became a committee member, rising to chairman in a very short time. “He was more of a ‘host’ than a Chair,” Stephen said. “He was always happy to see people, and welcomed everyone with a wide grin, and a happiness that was infectious. The meetings he conducted were a pleasure to be at, and his introductions of members made them all feel important, from champions to novices.”
He would work the room with his special “happy-go-lucky” style, regularly engaging in comical banter with the front row, comprising Reg Gutteridge, Morton Lewis, Ron Olver, Lennie Mancini, Fred “Nosher” Powell and at times Sir Henry Cooper. All no longer with us, but definitely remembered. He badgered them all for humorous stories, to the delight of the members present, but never forgot to welcome and introduce the members in the body of the hall, particularly the lesser-known or elderly ex-fighters.
“It was that special treatment that helped make LEBA an organisation where the motto, ‘It’s nice to belong’, is so very true,” Stephen said. “He made the LEBA meetings a talking-point from one month to the next.”
Mickey and his wife Barbara were extremely popular ambassadors for the boxing fraternity. They went everywhere LEBA was invited, whether for fundraising or supporting other EBAS or charities. I’m sure BN readers will join with LEBA in sending condolences to Barbara and all Mickey’s family and friends.
Mickey’s funeral will be held at 1pm on Wednesday January 24 at the Anglican Church at the City of London Cemetery
and Crematorium, Aldersbrook Road, Manor Park, London, E12.
Di Toohey, who was 70, passed away after a brave fight with cancer. She initially knew the Powell family through Stephen’s brother, John, for whom she worked. From there she went on to work for Stephen and John’s late mother, Mary, LEBA Secretary for many years. Mary had a hardware shop in Islington and LEBA had an office in the back room. Through her friendship with Mary, Di soon became an integral part of the ‘behind-the-scenes’ LEBA team, helping out with the daily running of the Association. She would take on tasks such as typing articles for LEBA’S monthly newsletter, Seconds Out; compiling the birthday lists for Seconds Out; and answering the telephone, which put her in touch with so many members. She knew virtually all of them by their first names.
Two more deaths were included in LEBA’S minute’s silence. Alf Curtis, from Stepney, was better known as an actor, playing Dr Evazan in the Star Wars series. But he was a LEBA member, “and a good one,” Stephen said.
Norman Saunders, from Dagenham, was another good member, who regularly attended LEBA meetings until becoming too ill. He boxed as a middleweight from 1952 to 1956, winning 10 and drawing six of his 25 outings.
Maybe he should have done the football pools, because in a period from January 1954 to January 1955 he drew six out of eight outings! A draw with Dennis Read (whom he’d previously outpointed) was followed by two wins and then five consecutive draws – the first against Phil Edwards, who later won the Welsh title and took on the late Terry Downes for the vacant British belt. The run ended with a points victory over Les Morgan – his first loss after eight straight wins.
May they all rest in peace.