Hackney Museum wants Hackney families to share photographs and memorabilia

AN EXHIBITION on boxing’s place in the life of Hackney people is being planned by Hackney Council – and staff want your help.

Hackney Museum historians are appealing for Hackney families with boxing connections to contact them and share any information or memorabilia.

East End Boxing Lives will run from January 25 to April 30 next year, will showcase the history of boxing in the East End, from the days of illegal fighting in pubs and taverns to its current status as an official sport in the Olympic Games.

The exhibition will include interviews with boxers and will explore the lives of famous boxers such as Daniel Mendoza, Ron Cooper, as well as local boys Terry Spinks MBE, Sammy McCarthy, Johny Kramer and Mickey Pye.

The museum is not just interested in men – female boxers are also included from the days of bare knuckle bone fighting to the first Olympic female boxer in the 2012 Olympics.

It will also look at Jewish and black boxers and the discrimination they met along the way.

London Ex-Boxers Association chairman, Charlie Wright, said: “We are very excited about the whole project. For the first time the boxing heritage of the East End of London will told through the lives of the people who boxed, trained or worked with boxing. As we approach the London Olympics this is a story that will inspire many people especially young people looking for a sport that they can get involved within their locality.”

Hackney Council cabinet member for community services, Jonathan McShane said that boxing was an integral part of Hackney’s social history.

“If you’ve got a story you’d like to share please contact Hackney Museum and tell us more.”

Contact Sue McAlpine if you can lend a photograph to be scanned or an item to be displayed for the duration of the exhibition, on sue.mcalpine@hackney.gov.uk or 020 8356 2551.