WAY Benny lost his final battle
WE REVISIT DEREK PARKER’S RAMBLES THROUGH RENFREWSHIRE
I remember the night my father told me the great Benny Lynch had died.
He informed me ring legend Benny was Scotland’s greatest boxer and that his rags-tosporting riches story was part of Renfrewshire’s heritage.
Born in Glasgow’s Gorbals neighbourhood on April 12, 1913, braveheart Benny won the British, European and World flyweight titles against Jackie Brown at Manchester on September 9, 1935.
He was Scotland’s first world boxing champion.
Benny was inspired by
Andy Smith, who ran a fruit and vegetable business from his home in John Lang Street, Johnstone.
Fellow pugilist Andy, whose parents owned a farm near Howwood, first met Benny when both were opponents at an open air bout in Glasgow.
Fight promoter was Tom Watson, who lived in a cottage
Derek Parker knew many of Paisley’s secrets – the grimy and the good.
He wandered every corner in search of the clues that would unlock Renfrewshire’s rich history.
These tales were shared with readers in his hugely popular Parker’s Way column.
We’ve opened our vault to handpick our favourites for you.
at Murphy’s Toll at the junction of Beith Road and Cochranemill Road in Johnstone.
Andy was introduced to
‘the noble art’ by Howwood scoutmaster ‘Big’ McNab and travelled by tramcar to train at Geordie Aitchison’s Parkhead gymnasium.
His superb ring skills earned him a scrap against Benny, which the future global champion narrowly won.
A life-long friendship was forged and Andy invited Benny to stay with him at John Lang Street and work as his delivery driver.
Benny drove groceries in Andy’s Model-T car to Johnstone, Elderslie, Kilbarchan and Bridge of Weir customers.
He sparred, shadow-boxed and pummelled punch bags at Andy’s makeshift gymnasium in a tenement basement at Laighcartside Street and Russell Street corner.
Locals called the dungeon ‘the Sunken Cellars’ because it was below pavement level.
Benny held his prestigious titles until 1938, when he had to relinquish them because he couldn’t make fighting-weight requirements.
Addicted to alcohol, he died in Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital in August, 1946, aged 33.
Kilbarchan woman Jenny
Robinson was a student nurse the night the bell tolled on the final round of Benny’s battle with the bottle.
Jenny told me: “Although a young nurse, I knew what to do when I was summoned to his ward.
“I closed Benny’s eyes and mouth and covered him up before he was taken to the hospital mortuary.
“It was so sad.”
Benny’s mortal remains are buried at Lambhill Cemetery, Glasgow. His black-and-gold tombstone is inscribed with the words: ‘Always a Fighter.’
His spirit lives on at Johnstone’s Sunken Cellars, where he laid the foundations for his elevation into Scotland’s sporting hall of fame.
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