Open Day September 2010

Community spirit is thriving at the Hastings West Hill ABC and has proven to be the way forward through difficult times. As a result of many people pulling together, Colin Parsons was able to officially open our new extension on Sunday 19th September 2010 providing members with an elite level facility in which to train.

Work began way back in June 2009 with Bob Bristow, father of boxers George, Ollie and Henry, taking on the main construction with DLJ Construction supplying the trades for the internal works, with the project being overseen on behalf of the trustees by Dave Bishop.

From the offset the project was fraught with problems, mainly related to the structural integrity of the old building and it wasn't long before monies set aside to complete the project had been swallowed up rectifying the unexpected. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, Bob Bristow stepped in and bank rolled the project to ensure the shell was completed in order that the club could re-open, albeit unfinished internally.

The next step was for the committee led by chairman Colin Parsons to raise the necessary funds required to ensure that firstly the club was put back on an even keel and secondly additional funds were raised to both finish the new project and renovate the existing gym to the same standard.

It wasn't long before sufficient funds had been raised through the generosity of:

Plus the individual efforts of Trevor Foster, father of boxer Liam who raised over £600 through sponsored runs, Trevor has more runs planned for this season and is keen for others to join him - "KEEP RUNNING FOREST"

Having made a request for assistance we were soon in shock at the amazing response we received. Assistance came from all directions in a variety of forms. Local tradesmen, coaches, parents and boxers, rallied together to complete the works using donations of equipment and materials as detailed below:

To everyone involved we owe you an huge debt of gratitude, you know who you are and how grateful we are for your assistance, we simply cannot thank you enough and hope you will remain inspired to assist us again in the future should the need arise.

The day itself was a great success, with a gym packed full of boxers and coaches both past and present, we were also joined by local dignitaries, parents and supporters of the club to witness our longest reigning chairman Colin Parsons, who has been involved with the club since the 1940's, open the new extension. Colin gave an excellent speech thanking everyone for their kind support before present chairman, Graham Towse continued the proceedings during which he took the opportunity, at the committee's request, to surprise Colin by honouring his efforts as the longest serving chairman of the club which culminated in Jean Gray, club secretary and Denise Attrell treasurer and fund raiser presenting Colin with an antique book and his lovely wife Joan a bouquet of flowers.

Colin received a further surprise as he officially opened the new extension as the plaque honouring the occasion also honoured his long service to the club - A fitting tribute to a life time of work. The icing on the cake for Colin and indeed all of us was that Colin's brother Brian a former coach at the West Hill and many of Colin's contacts and friends had turned out to support the event - All paid tribute to the legacy he has worked so hard to create, thank you Colin and Joan for all your efforts.

The schedule was to then move on, but the committee had one last surprise, this time sprung by Dave Bishop. Dave gave an excellent speech honouring another former boxer, coach and chairman Dave Harris detailing the life time of support Dave has given to the club, which included saving the club from ruin in 1968 by challenging and beating the World Boxing Endurance record by sparring 162 rounds to generate much needed funds.

Dave was presented a plaque that has been secured in the middle gym where Dave trained boys for many years that is to honour his support to the club. Similar to Colin, Dave's day was made all the more special due to the attendance of many ex boxers and coaches Dave had trained or worked with, to name just a few, Trevor Bloomfield, Johnny Gray, Ian Gray, George Doolan, Fred Frewin and Dave's old coach Bert Wilder's.

Amidst an atmosphere of pride and enjoyment, it was time for some of today's young guns to demonstrate their skills.

Coaches Gary White and Ian Bourner cornered Rhys Verlander and Liam Foster for three rounds of conditional sparring before Finn Metcalfe and Kyle Logan got their chance to shine by participating in several rounds of technical sparring.

Gary then finished of the exhibition by taking Conner Sime on the pads. Everyone present was impressed with the boy's performances and witnessed first hand the strength in depth and talent presently attending the gym.