This photo was taken a couple of years after I started my boxing career. I began boxing at a very young age I think I was about 10 and boxed for the Standard Boxing Club. I had a couple of fights which I won. When I was 11 years old I wanted for some reason to go to a Boarding school it was called Wyre Farm situated in Kidderminster. Wyre Farm was a good school and I enjoyed my time there. I played lots of sport mainly football and cricket. Whilst at at the boarding school I didn't let it be known that I had an interest in boxing. there were some rough kids who were very street wise they would have made my life hell had they known. I just acted out being like any other kid in that year. I played football and cricket for the schools 11 and 12 year olds. When I was 13, I left Boarding school which had been renamed Coventry City Modern Boarding school. I went back to Coventry and started school at the Woodland Secondary Modern. I did not enjoy my schooling at Woodlands, however I started up my boxing and joined my old boxing club. My first year in the schools boxing championships I did not do very good and I was beaten by a friend of mine called Wally Flynn he carried on to the next stages of the championships. The next year I did better I went on to the quarter finals of the school boys. I boxed a lad called Les MacAteer who went on to become a very good professional.
This
photograph was taken whist I was serving in Germany with 10 Regt RCT. I was
there between 1973 and the end of 1974. It shows me wearing the Hemming belt
given to the RCT. boxer who has achieved the most during the year.
I am currently researching the origins of
the Hemming belt and will be posting it here soon Click on photograph for hyper
link to Hemming belt
I
represented the army from 1963 to 1971 during that time I boxed against Wales on
a number of occasions. This is a certificate when I boxed N Phillips in
1965
In
this fight I represented England and boxed Dave Davis, Davis later went on to
win a number of ABA titles and also represent Great Britain
Whist
serving in Germany I reached the Quarter finales of the ABA championships. I
boxed a marine Call Adams who beat me in a very close fight.
I
achieved my revenge by winning the quarter finals and beating Mne Adams in 1968,
I also won the semifinal. In this fight I boxed an Irishman call E Cole he boxed
from a club in London.. As a result of my performances during the year I was
selected to represent Great Britain at the Mexico Olympics in place of the
winner Cole, he ended turning professional. Unfortunately because of political
in fighting within the ABA I ended up not going to Mexico, the excuse was that
my physical condition would not cope with the altitude in Mexico. It was claimed
that my heart showed a slight problem, although the army medical team who did
further checks on me, disputed these claims. a boxer called Terry Waller
ended up going to Mexico.
The
army boxing team showing army champions including Johnnie McGonigal who
represented Great Britain in Mexico.
Some of the trophy's 1965 to 1969
This
Photo shows me as a recruit in 1963
During
my army career I trained as a weapons instructor and attended a training course
held at Hythe I later did a tactics instructors course at Brecon which was very
interesting.
This
shows Officers and Senior ranks in the airborne section of the RCT I served with
63 sqn from 1969 to 1973.