Pride, passion and packing a punch
WHEN IT comes to life, St Paul’s is a boxing gym which punches above its weight.
The gym, which is the oldest club in Hull and the biggest outside London, has a proud record including training Olympian Luke Campbell and up and coming stars like Harvey Lambert.
But it is the thousands of youngsters who have come through its doors and learned the age-old lessons of respect, discipline, and community, which is probably its proudest boast.
The former ballroom on North Church Side, opposite Hull Minster, which opened as a gym in 1948, has had visitors from round the world – who have sometimes been amazed at the primitive conditions.
“We’ve had people from America, Australia, from Spain, Denmark and Holland. There’s no heating, there’s pigeons flying about, bees and butterflies, something falling off the ceiling,” says head coach Mike Bromby.
“It got to the point where we were embarrassed to put on shows.”
Five years ago trustees John Rutherford and Shelagh Devereux came on board, joined later by current High Sheriff of the East Riding Andrew Horncastle.
Fundraising started in earnest and they now have £300,000 towards a £500,000 upgrade – the first in 50 years.
“Despite the dirty and rundown facilities, I was really impressed by the standard of the coaching and the relationships with the members,” recalls Mr Rutherford.
The leaking roof is now being fixed by Hull Council, which is also paying for a disabled lift.
The upgrade includes modern changing rooms for the men – as well as the 110 female members – and facilities for the disabled. But the pressure is on, with an outstanding £200,000, which needs to be raised by September. When the work is done and the amazing barrel roof revealed for the first time, it will also open during the day. It will give people – they already travel from Goole and Bridlington to sparring sessions – another reason to come to Hull’s Old Town. Mr Horncastle said: “What this is essentially doing is giving people not just an opportunity to increase fitness and skills, but it is helping create what we call champions of the community. “The club works with other charities and organisations, helping with youth support and people suffering with different issues. When the work is done it will be able to reach a lot more people. Historically there was a number of clubs that did similar things. St Paul’s has survived and it’s thriving. There’s a shortage of money, but no shortage of members.”
Mr Bromby, who has been with the gym for 50 years, and whose top motto is “Everybody counts”, said 15 nationalities come to the gym, including from Syria, Russia and Afghanistan.
“Everyone is as one, they all work and train together and families become friends. We do walks and cycle rides together – it is about being together.
“All these years we struggled, we thought we’d go under every year – the building was falling to bits. I am hoping it stands for another 100 years.”
Mr Horncastle added: “It is an inspirational place and one we need to support and maintain for decades ahead. That is why we’re appealing to individuals, businesses and trusts across the region to back St Paul’s and the essential work it does.”
To raise funds or donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/ stpaulsboxing.
Everyone is as one, they all work and train together.
Head coach at St Paul’s, Mike Bromby.