Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral Now and Then whetstone lane boxing club

Yes a firm of solicitors is in the building now. My Dad's mate Tommy Molloy, got his son, a promising amateur in there and Johnny Campbell polished him into one of the best fighters ever to come out of Birkenhead, Leo Molloy, who could well have taken a title had Bessie Braddock MP not objected to him contesting it as he was born in the Republic of Ireland. Leo refused to accept naturalisation stating when he had served in the British Army for two years National Service his Irish birth was not an issue.

According to planning records Johnny Campbell got planning permission in June 1954 to convert the empty residential property at 68 Whetstone Lane into "a boxing club for boys and youths". It appears to have remained open until about 1970, when in December of that year Brian and Les McAteer and Alan J Quinney applied - unsuccessfully - for permission to turn the building into a licensed members-only private club. The building is described as having a gym on the ground floor, with changing room and showers in the basement and a caretaker's flat upstairs.

Thank you for this I have now found out that Johnny Campbell is also part of my family tree he was a boxing manager and I think Oliver Locke (my cousin) his nephew trained with him as an amateur boxer, any pics would be very gratefully recieved

Thank you all good info for my family tree

Thanks for posting that. Only just came across it. Tom Molloy was my Granddad, Leo my Dad. I have written an account of this but wouldn't know how to put it on here but you are spot on. I am also in the middle of writing something else concerned with the fact that his principles won out over his ambition. What was your Dad's name if you don't mind me asking...?