Marvels Lane Boxing Club staged an unusual open-air show last week, with resounding success.

John Chapman, who helps run the club which held the show in Balder Rise, Grove Park, said: “We organised a couple of open-air shows in the past but, unfortunately, they turned out to be a disaster, costing us a lot more money to put on compared to what we recouped.

“Dennis Stockton, one of our trainers, suggested we try another.

“It is obviously vital when having an an open-air show that the weather is good. Fortunately, on this occasion, it was and around 500 spectators attended.

“We had 20 junior bouts at various weights, with boxers coming from as far afield as Herne Bay and Lowestoft, plus others from Essex and nearby clubs, including 11 of our own.

“Seven of our lads managed to win their bouts, but without the help of our trainers, Eddie Brindle, Stewart Jobwn, Eric Abbott, Terry Hollan, Paul Chapman, as well as Dennis [Stockton], chairman Tony Wilson, plus the ABA officials and Peter Ellis, of the OIC, along with myself and other committee members who put in a lot of time and effort, the show could not have taken place.” Marvels Lane, which was founded in 1962, has lots more to offer than just boxing, as Chapman revealed.

“Our boxing season is now over, but we have ambitious plans for a new all-weather pitch for our football club.

“It will cost more than £50,000 to lay and we will need to find 10 per cent of that ourselves, with grants making up the rest.” “We also have pool and weightlifting, which keeps youngsters off the streets and out of trouble “Some boys joined us when they were tearaways. But I have found that when you give them a purpose and give them repect that, in time, they show respect back and become better individuals for it.” If you would like more details about Marvels Lane Boys' Club, call John Chapman on 020 8851 6062.