THIS year’s thoroughly successful British Ex-Boxers’ Hall of Fame has been and gone – and plans have already begun for next year’s, to be hosted by the Welsh EBA, whose secretary, Cyril Thomas, has provided the relevant information. The date – September 20, 2020. The venue – the Mercure Holland House Hotel, Newport Road, Cardiff. Tickets will be available from Friday November 1, priced £39.50 per head for a three-course dinner, plus coffee or tea. These can be booked on 029 2086 3452 – if you get the answerphone please leave contact details. Tickets will be sent out after payment is received. Cyril goes on: “We have secured a discount rate of £79 b/b for a single room and £89 b/b for a double for the Awards night only, which can be booked by phoning Reservations and booking for the British Ex-Boxers’ Hall of Fame Awards on September 20, 2020 and claiming these prices.” The phone number is 029 2043 5000. “Alas,” Cyril says, “we could not secure a reduction for the Saturday night as they claim that Saturdays are premium rates. These are £139 single and £149 double b/b.”
My late fellow-writer Ken Jones was a proud Welshman, and it was standing room only at his funeral last week. Although inevitably a sad occasion, the theme was very much a celebration of Ken’s life, both during the service and the reception afterwards. I was very pleased to meet Geraint Thomas, whose father, Eddie, won European, Commonwealth and British welterweight tittles – and went on to become a leading manager and cutman, and promoter. Next week – Friday November 8 – Geraint is putting on a special tribute night to Eddie, at the Penybarren Social Club, Merthyr Tydfil. This is to celebrate the 70th anniversary (November 15, 1949) of Eddie’s points win over Henry Hall in Sheffield, to become Merthyr’s first-ever British champion. Several ex-fighters that he looked after will be there – including Ken Buchanan MBE, whom Eddie took to the undisputed world lightweight championship, and who will be making the trip down from Scotland. Tickets are £20 per head, including a souvenir programme.