Perth’s oldest boxing club threw open its doors at the weekend to give an insight into its history.
As part of Doors Open Day, Perth Railway Boxing Club welcomed visitors interested in looking into the club’s colourful past - or those who want to be part of the club’s future.
The club was one of few venues able to open physically over the weekend, with visitors able to keep a physical distance.
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Those who went along to have a look were welcomed by volunteers Alan Stewart, Colin Clayes and John McLeod.
Amongst the guests making the familiar trip up the stairs to the home of Perth’s oldest boxing club were former members and descendants of some of the club’s most famous faces.
Bob Fawcett, son of Bobby Fawcett, an original member of the Perth Railway Athletic Club and world record holder at steel strand pulling, was one of the first guests through the door and helped to identify names and locations on some of the older photos in the archives on display.
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Shortly afterwards, former Scottish champion and British University champion Sam Kynoch, who won his titles in the 90s and early 2000s, visited with his brother Ben, who also held a British title. Sam, who runs the Kynoch Boxing Gym in Glasgow, was pleased to see the place looking well after the recent decorating.
Later in the day Bobby Urquhart, who boxed for the club in the 1980s, visited and was re-united with his old medical cards.
Linda Anderson, daughter of club legend, Bill Anderson also took the trip to the club.
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Bill boxed for Scotland, was a Midlands District Champion, former Scottish National Team coach and volunteer for over 60 years.
Linda kindly loaned Bill’s old boxing shorts to the collection held at the AK Bell library. Bill can be seen wearing these shorts in the picture from the 1950s.
Other distinguished guests were the son and grandson of Danny Cruickshanks, who held many British and Scottish titles in the 1950s and was a volunteer coach and secretary at the club for many years.
Club secretary Alan Stewart said: “On behalf of the club I would like to thank Sarah Wilcock from AK Bell Library archives for organising the loan of the historical documents for the event, each and every person who visited and to volunteers John and Colin who staffed the event with me.
“The event would not have been a success without either of these elements.
“Each and every person has helped flesh out details around the club’s rich history with their stories of days gone by and we also raised some money to go towards our planned upgrades to the gym, which is absolutely fantastic.”
