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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Nottinghamshire => Topic started by: Burto on Wednesday 04 April 07 09:54 BST (UK)

Title: Boxers!
Post by: Burto on Wednesday 04 April 07 09:54 BST (UK)
Hi,
There is a story in our family that one of our Swift ancestors who lived in Nottingham was a boxer. Does anyone know if any sports records exist that we could check to confirm this?
Many thanks.
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Mr. MIGKY on Wednesday 04 April 07 10:11 BST (UK)
Hi burto, maybe some of these site might help you.

http://www.prewarboxing.co.uk/

http://sportsvl.com/rest/boxing.htm#History

http://www.newsrecreated.com/acatalog/Boxing_Edition.html

http://boxing-forum.co.uk/

http://nfa.dept.shef.ac.uk/history/shows/boxing.php

hope they help
migky ;)
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Garethboxing on Wednesday 04 April 07 10:41 BST (UK)
When you talk of ancestors, how far back do you mean?

Wally Swift, of Nottingham, whose professional career went from 1957-69, was a British champion at both welterweight and middleweight. For his record, see:

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=30805

His son, also Wally, also known as Wally Reynolds, boxed pro from 1985-1994 and won the British light-middleweight title. See:

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=26656

    Regards, Gareth
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: bev32 on Friday 06 April 07 11:39 BST (UK)
Hi Burto

Just thought i would let you know that the boxer Wally Swift that Gareth has found is my Dad's cousin.

Regards

Bev
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Burto on Friday 06 April 07 23:03 BST (UK)
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all your input...it was my Aunty who told me and it was something her Grandfather told her, so it would have been from late 1800's to early 1900's I'm guessing.
Our Swift's arrived in Nottingham around 1840.
Bev, do you happen to know whether Wally Swift's father was a boxer? It would be interesting to see whether there is a connection!
Does anyone know if it is something that would run in families? From what I've read it seemed quite common at fairs or would anyone from any background have taken part in the 19th century?
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Garethboxing on Saturday 07 April 07 08:59 BST (UK)
Boxing definitely runs in families, perhaps more than most sports. A family with a fighting tradition would tend to introduce boys into the game at an early age - and if they liked it, or showed some ability, they would become boxers themselves.

The fairground booth scene was a key part of a boxer's experience (and a way to earn regular money) up until the 1950s or 1960s. It's also connected with the love of boxing common in the travelling community; to this day a disproportionate number of professional boxers in Britain are of gypsy stock.

As for the background of the fighters, they would have been overwhelmingly working class. There might have been the odd toff (like Lord Byron) who would pay for tuition from an old-timer - a bit like white-collar boxers today - but the ones who actually fought in public rings would have been from the bottom rungs of the social ladder.

      Regards, Gareth
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Burto on Sunday 08 April 07 20:14 BST (UK)
Hi Gareth,
That's interesting that you say a lot of the travelling community were into boxing...we have been told that there may be Romany blood in us and this story of a boxer in the family together with my ancestor being a musician who's parents I can't track down makes me wonder!
Thanks for that.
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: cire on Wednesday 11 April 07 19:13 BST (UK)
I got a bit worried when it was suggested that Wally Swift was one of the ancestors!!! I remember hearing about Wally when he was boxing and that can't be all that long ago surely!!!!!!

When I was a very young plastics technologist in the 1950s I went to the Raleigh factory in Nottingham to try and find where the then new fibreglass reinforced plastics might be used in the cycle industry. I was put to work with a young lady on part of the production process. The foreman quietly warned me to behave myself --- "her husband is Wally Swift" he said.!!!!

Ericv
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Burto on Sunday 22 July 07 18:19 BST (UK)
Hi,
It turns out after speaking to my Aunt that Wally Swift's father was my GGrandfather's cousin!!!!
My GGrandfather would also play "spa" with my Aunt when she was a little girl so it obviously runs in the family!
If anyone out there can help me with Wally Swift's father's name I would be most grateful (PM me) as I think I know who our ancestor must have been, but it would be nice to see which desendant he came from.
My GGrandfather was very proud of Wally by the sounds of it and would talk about him alot.
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Garethboxing on Sunday 22 July 07 20:16 BST (UK)
As far as I know Wally is still alive; he would be 70. If you want to contact him or Wally Jr, you could write to the Nottingham Ex-Boxers' Association - the secretary was (last year at least) Graham Rooksby. I will PM you with his address.

   Gareth
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Lewis Swift on Wednesday 29 June 16 13:06 BST (UK)
We must be related.  Wally Swift was my dads cousin.  Unfortunately my grandad died when my dad was 9 years old, so I don't know much about the family history and my dad did not stay in contact with that side of the family. Did you find out anything more out?
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Burto on Sunday 10 July 16 19:29 BST (UK)
Hi Lewis,
I've sent you a PM!
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Lewis Swift on Monday 08 August 16 14:33 BST (UK)
Hi Burto,
Thanks for getting back and sorry for the late reply.  I'm afraid the system won't let me send you a PM.
My Grandad was called "William Swift" and he was born in St Annes, Nottingham.  He's registered as a "Civil Engineer" on my dads's marriage certificate.   My dad was called Brian Swift. 
Thanks
Liz
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Garethboxing on Monday 08 August 16 14:47 BST (UK)
Liz, if you post one more time - making it three in total - you will be able to send a PM (unless the system has changed - perhaps a mod will correct this if I'm wrong).
         Gareth
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: sarah on Tuesday 09 August 16 10:38 BST (UK)
Welcome to RootsChat Lewis, you are able to use the pm function now.

Regards

Sarah
Title: Re: Boxers!
Post by: Lewis Swift on Tuesday 09 August 16 11:43 BST (UK)
Hi Gareth,

Thanks.  It works now :)

Liz