BOXING GLOVES & REG

Reg’s grandmother Lily was one of 14. The girls slept inside a caravan and the boys slept outside between the axles. Their mum and dad bedded down in a tent. Lily married young, her new husband was a fighter. He fought 15 matches a day, each of 3 rounds, their travelling boxing ring provided income to the young family. Their son Reg grew up in the ring and began fighting at age 6. When war broke out petrol rationing forced gypsy families into a sedentary existence. Reg’s family settled in Bristol. They soon attracted the attention of the local education officer. Reg would have to go to school. His dad insisted that if he was to have a formal education it had to be the best. Bristol Cathedral School was prohibitively expensive but the headmaster said Reg could have a place if he could beat the school’s best boxer. At aged 13 Reg knocked out the school’s 19 year old champion. Years later Reg and Peggy had a son, Reg (Junior). The tiny boxing gloves were a present from father to newborn son. To this day Reg has never raised a fist.

22 Apr 2012