Larches and Savick Amateur Boxing Club: A Knockout in the Face of Crime

Discipline starts here.’ This is the first rule a new boxer learns when they walk through the door of Larches and Savick Amateur Boxing Club for the first time. They can’t really ignore it. A neon yellow sign with the words written across it in big capital letters is one of the first things you see when entering the club.

And the coaches mean every word. “Kids today have no discipline,” said Jimmy Moon, who coaches at the club four nights a week.

“We don’t mess around here if the kids are naughty. They realise straight away. We’ll warn them first and if they carry on we’ll suspend them.”

The message is loud and clear

CRIME DROP

Maybe it’s the straight talking coaches who have helped reduce crime in Larches by 75%. Since the club opened in June 2002, police have noted a massive drop in crime in the area.

Keith Swift, 71, who has won an Army boxing championship twice, says it’s down to the discipline learnt by youngsters at the club.

“Boxing makes you understand why there are rules. One of the biggest things you learn when you box are rules,” he explained.

“As well as that, it gives the Larches kids something to aim for and commit to. In terms of aggression, boxing helps them to channel their anger into a certain area so they do not need to use it on the streets.”


COMMUNITY


Delicia Davy takes her 11-year-old son, Michael, to the club up to four times a week. For four hours a week, she proudly watches Michael from the side of the ring.

“It’s one big happy family here. It’s really community-driven and everybody gets on really well. It’s good exercise and it keeps him off the streets.”

Michael, who’s heroes are Ricky Hatton and David Haye, agreed that the club gives him somewhere to go once the school day is over. “I’d get so bored if I didn’t come here,” he admitted.

“We take kids in who would otherwise be hanging round the streets,” the club chairman, Joe Kilshaw said. “The area would be a lot worse if it weren’t for the club.”


DEMAND


The Catforth Road club has proved to be so popular it has had to turn budding boxers away because it is simply too small.

Next year, however, will see a brand new club being built. It will be much bigger and will boast two boxing rings, shower rooms, disabled facilities, a store room and offices.

With a brand spanking new club to look forward to, the Larches estate may see its crime statistics decrease even more. One thing is for sure, they won’t have to turn any more kids away again.



Watch the video below to see the Larches boxers in action.

Where are all the poppies?

It is four days until Remembrance Sunday and I have yet to see somebody selling poppies. I've noticed that over the years, there seem to be less and less poppy collectors and I think it is very very sad. The Royal British Legion's website admits that,



"Each year our Poppy People numbers drop by thousands, as many of our older collectors decide that they can no longer assist us. They have well and truly done their bit, and now we need to focus on new faces to come forward and lend a hand."



I used to see cadets and proud war veterans eagerly selling poppies around shopping centres in droves. Last year I saw a few volunteers outside Asda. It does seem, though, that poppy sellers are dwindling fast. I will keep looking out for them but I urge you all, if you have a poppy, wear it with pride and let me know where I can get one from!



What do you think? Have you noticed this or, in your area, are poppy collectors still thriving? Drop me a line and let me know what you think.