George Swinbourne at the Rochester Casino

George Swinbourne professional boxer (1907-1993)

George Swinbourne, my grand-dad, and his three brothers, Alec (aka-Alan), Fred and Charlie, were professional boxers who fought in Great Britain in the 1920s and 1930s. I have been told that on one occasion all four brothers fought on the same bill at the Rochester Casino. (The one and only time four brothers have been known to have appeared on the same professional bill in the UK).

Alec Swinbourne from Maidstone boxed between 1924 and 1933 100 professional contests 
Charlie Swinbourne from Maidstone boxed between 1929 and 1933 8 professional contests 
Fred Swinbourne from Maidstone boxed between 1925 and 1935 47 professional contests 
George Swinbourne from Maidstone boxed between 1924 and 1932 121 professional contests

George and Alec were the best of the Swinbourne boxers and fought all over the country at many venues including: The Ring - Blackfriars, York Hall, and the National Sporting Club (originally in Covent Garden). My grand-dad liked fighting at the National Sporting Club because if he put on a good show, the crowd of "Toffs" watching would often throw in more money, 'nobbins', than he otherwise received from his share of the purse. Fred was never as focused in the ring as George or Alan. My grand-dad said that Fred used to 'clown' for the crowd and that albeit popular, it often resulted in beatings that were detrimental to Fred's health. 

The Ring Blackfriars London at the time my Grandfather appeared there.

Rochester Casino was the 'Swinbourne Boys' local venue. Maidstone and the Medway Towns represented home and where they had a strong local following. Before one of my grand-dad's bigger fights, Maidstone buses carried posters "George Swinbourne Maidstone' s Own Son". He was very proud to represent his town and win the South Eastern Championship at his weight.

As well as the professional fights, George made many appearances on boxing booths which were very popular at fairs in England between the wars.  He also sparred and fought exhibition bouts with a number of famous boxers, including a young and heavier Len Harvey. 

Bombardier Billy Wells (the second of the well-oiled strong-man seen to strike the gong at the start of Arthur J Rank Films) was the referee for one of my grand-dad's fights. He never forgave Mr Wells for stopping the fight, apparently in his opinion neither fighter was trying hard enough!

George appeared and trained in London at a Gym in Bethnal Green and I remember him telling me that after 'hard fights' he would use the Turkish baths there to help recover. Fights of 10 and fifteen rounds were common and on at least one occasion, when a boxer didn't turn up, George fought two opponents on one night - thus guaranteeing two purses.

After he retired from the ring, he had a successful career as a fishmonger, greengrocer and property owner. He remained close to his brother Alan and half-sister Rose and Fred would occasionally appear for family visits.  

As a result of being blown up in WW2, uncle Fred's behaviour and demeanor could change suddenly and I suspect this is partly why he relocated from Kent to Camberwell where he had a shop and let rooms.  As a child I was fascinated by his ability to do magic tricks including: making coins disappear and reappear, manipulating playing-cards and 'eating' razor blades and light-bulbs. I am told that he had a 'beautiful athletic body' and at one time in his life he had been an artists model. Allegedly, he once sat for the painter Augustus John. Together with my grandfather, he made money for awhile as a 'card sharp' working the trains from London Euston to Manchester Piccadiliy.  I still know how to cheat at 'three-card brag', a trick I was taught as a child by my grand-dad George!

Sadly in his latter years, George's health deteriorated and he suffered dementia before his death. My grand-dad never regretted his life in the ring as being 'tough' defined him. He did have a more gentle side, he liked children and was a very kind grand-dad who never once raised his hand or voice to me.

I remember my grand-dad George , uncle Alan, uncle Fred and aunt Rose with lots of love and affection.

For more information on the Boxing at Bethnal Green go to 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Hall

For more information on the National Sporting Club go to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Sporting_Club

For more information on boxing booths go to
http://www.londonexboxers.org.uk/archive_detail.php?upload_ID=254

For more information on Len Harvey go to  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Harvey

For more information on the Swinbourne brothers at Rochester Casino go to
http://www.boxinghistory.org.uk: Nights at Rochester Casino: By Bill Pullum This article is reproduced with the kind permission of Derek O’Dell, Editor and Producer of ‘The Southern Ex-Boxer’, in w...

For film clip of The Rank Gong-man see
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8ccsg_general-film-distributors-ltd-1930_shortfilms?ralg=meta2-only#from=embed-playreloff-1