BESIDE THE SEASIDE
Essex EBA flourishing in Southend
THE EBA movement generally has been facing problems over the past few years, so it takes courage to start a new Association. But Raymond Lee and Tommy Burling did just that – and, after four years, Essex EBA are going strong. Raymond is Secretary, Tommy Chairman. President is Lennie Wilson.
There was always a strong Essex contingent at London EBA meetings, which is what gave Tom and Raymond the idea. “About half our members also belong to LEBA,” Raymond said. “We meet on the third Sunday in the month, LEBA meet on the first. So everyone can get to both.”
Essex meet at the Naval and Military Club, 20 Royal Terrace, Southend-on-sea. Start time is 11am. There’s a bar, and people can also get a Sunday lunch. “We’ve got about 120 members,” Raymond said. “Generally about 30 or 40 attend – maybe up to 60 in the summer. Lots of members never come, because they live too far away. There’s a load that live up north. But they’re happy to pay their subs every year. Lots of wives are members, too.
“We get at least one new member at virtually every meeting. Recently we were delighted to welcome Billy Wilson, who won the ABA featherweight title in 1962. He was very pleased to meet up with Mickey Pye, who won the flyweight title that year.”
Essex have set up a number of initiatives, such as having Area title belts made for members who are past champions. So far they have made three – for Central Area champs Billy Aird (heavy) and Pat Thompson (light-heavy), and Southern Area light-heavyweight titlist Phil Watford. An Area champion never gets his BBBOFC belt to keep, however many times he defends it, so it’s a lovely thing to have.
And they also produce scrapbooks detailing a particular fighter’s career. Currently they’re working on their fourth – on former world lightweight champion Ken Buchanan. They have already produced ones on Johnny Pritchett, Sammy Mccarthy and Terry Downes.
“We sell the scrapbooks at £10 each – they’re very popular,” Raymond said. “And the money goes to good causes. For instance, the Johnny Pritchett book raised £840 for the Royal Marsden Hospital, where Johnny’s wife, Pat, was being treated for cancer. And the Terry Downes book raised £750 for the Home Counties EBA [where Terry was president until his death last year].”
Essex have donated to several causes. Donations were made in the past year to help, among others, the Freddie Mills Club’s children’s Christmas party; former British super-welterweight champion Larry Paul’s funeral; and a blue plaque to commemorate Joe Anderson, who won the English lightweight title in 1897.
Another initiative Essex are planning is a Manor Place Baths Reunion on April 28, similar to the ones held at Shoreditch Town Hall and Wolverhampton Civic Hall in recent years. “We’ve already done the record book, and got lots of sponsors,” Raymond said.
Remembering the other two events, I’m sure this one will be a great success, and I’ll publish more details nearer the time. I’ve got fond memories of Manor Place – there was always a good atmosphere, and exciting, well-matched bouts.
I recall my old friend Paddy Byrne started promoting there regularly in 1973, after a hiatus. Champions I remember seeing there include the late Pat Mccormack, Jimmy Revie and Johnny Clark.
Essex also produce a monthly newsletter, Punch Lines, which is a good read. We tend not to think of the Channel Islands as a hotbed of pro boxing, but the December issue has a fascinating story about boxing in the 1930s at St George’s Hall, Guernsey, and Georges Herpe – the Channel Islands welter and middleweight champion.
Another interesting feature is a roundup of Essex boxers’ results from the previous month. Unfortunately, some people think EBAS are concerned solely with remembering the past, and it’s vital to demonstrate that they care about, and are involved in, today’s scene as well. Different EBAS have different ways of showing this, and I think this is an excellent idea of Essex’s, which other EBAS could consider.