A GREAT CAUSE
Fundraising is going well for the Ringside Rest and Care Home
I WAS delighted to hear from my old friend, Hastings EBA Chairman Dave Harris, with the good news that plans for the Ringside Rest and Care Home for Ex-boxers are going well. “We’ve got great support from so many people,” Dave said. “We’ll be writing to all 679 amateur clubs and 130 pro gyms. I want every boxer, trainer and official to do something to raise money, so our ex-boxers in need have their own home. And we can do it.”
For instance, prior to the start of Hastings’ January meeting, Vice-president Martin Hooker, who’s 69, was due to shadow-box 10 three-minute rounds. “He’s raised over £1,000 in sponsorship already,” Dave said. “He’s had great support from Brighton EBA and from his old amateur club, Westree.
“Someone’s going to run both the Liverpool and Manchester marathons in full boxing attire, and one local club is being sponsored for picking up plastic off the beach. I’m hoping other clubs will do the same. And [author and reporter] Andrew Fairley is organising a sponsored skydive over Salisbury Plain. Our aim is to raise £10m to get the project up and running. We have two very wealthy businessmen who have pledged their support, provided that we can (a) prove we’re a charity and (b) raise £100,000 ourselves. And we can do both.”
In fact, Andrew Fairley contacted me independently to tell me about his plan. It’s a three-mile high skydive – “not for the faint-hearted,” Andrew said. “It involves 60 seconds in freefall! On the team so far are Jeff Ofori, Joel Mcintyre, Brad Pauls, Chris Hobbs, Garry Neale, Dave Birmingham and Dave’s trainer, Brian Davidson.”
Well done to all of you, and everyone else undertaking initiatives to raise money for this wonderful cause.
“We’ve got four trustees,” Dave Harris said. “Myself – Chairman, Paul Fairweather – Treasurer, Karen Knight – Secretary (she’s a diamond) and John Oliver. And we’ve got great ambassadors – pro world champions John Conteh, Ken Buchanan, Alan Minter and Duke Mckenzie, along with James Cook, top amateurs John Lyon, Terry Waller and Dick Mctaggart. Plus elite trainer Lee Pullen and [Brighton EBA President and BN Editor] Matt Christie. And [former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion] Scott Welch is on board as consultant – his experience is invaluable.
“We’ve received £1,000 from the Freddie Mills Club and £2,000 from the Hall of Fame. And we’re hoping
that promoters will allow us to sell our merchandise at shows. We’ve got t-shirts and baseball caps, and anyone raising over £300 in sponsorship will receive a free Ringside Rest and Care Home t-shirt.”
I recall there was a certain amount of cynicism when Dave first announced his vision of the Care Home – just as there was when he announced he was instigating the British Hall of Fame, which has been a tremendous success. If anyone can make this work, it’s Dave.
Manchester EBA recently lost their oldest member – Bert Daley, who was 97 and had been a member from the beginning. Paying tribute in the MEBA newsletter, Editor Ian Harrison said: “Bert was a walking encyclopedia on boxing history and was a big help to people writing books and articles. He had a great turnout at his funeral, which included the Dunkirk Veterans Association, of which Bert was a member.”
My condolences to Bert’s family and friends. On a happier note, I was pleased to read that Manchester Life President Tommy Proffitt is “back on his feet and looking well” after a period of ill-health.
Ian is on the lookout for articles, tales, anecdotes, gossip and the like, so if you’re a Manchester ex-boxer, or ever boxed there, or fought a Manchester boxer, and have a story to tell, do contact Ian at ian-j-harrison@ntlworld.com.
London EBA members please note – there is no February meeting. LEBA’S Annual Awards Luncheon takes place at the Connaught Rooms, Holborn, on Sunday February 17.
EMAIL simonoldtimers@googlemail.com with your ex-boxer association news.