Meetings and Events Reports
9 Nov: Michael Insley: The Last Great Prizefight in England
The train left London Bridge at 6.15 am on 10th December 1863 with 800 passengers
on board, each of whom had paid the princely sum of 3 guineas for a ticket
with the destination ‘Nowhere’. The police had been hoodwinked and the passengers
were uncertain where they were going, knowing only that they were to witness
a prizefight for the championship of England. When the train arrived at Reigate,
the Surrey constabulary were out in force so the train continued on through
Surrey and Kent into Sussex, stopping just short of Wadhurst station, which
was just as well as the Sussex police had massed at Etchingham. The passengers
disembarked and made their way up the slippery hill to a suitable field in
Turners Green where the ring was pitched.
Michael Insley treated the Wadhurst History Society to the story of this
‘shameful event’, but beforehand reminded us of the history of prizefights
from the first great fight for the championship of England in the early 1700’s
through to this, the last great fight before the Marquis of Queensberry introduced
his rules in 1867 and the sport became more ‘gentlemanly’.
The sport had its share of characters – for instance the fighters Jack Slack,
Daniel Mendoza, Gentleman John Jackson, John Gully and Tom Cribb – and vast
sums of money were wagered, won and lost. The nobility enjoyed the sport
and watched it despite its illegality; Byron was a keen boxer, John Keats
went to a fight to overcome his grief following the death of his brother,
and six prizefighters were present at the coronation of George IV. Wellington
thought that a fight at school had given him the skills to win at Waterloo
and Conan Doyle believed that prizefighting had made the English tough. There
was something about the nature of prizefights that may explain why 800 people
had paid a significant amount to go somewhere unknown to watch a fight that
might not even take place.
So there they all were at a field in Turners Green, Wadhurst, on a sunny
but chill December morning waiting for the fight to begin. There was a delay
of 45 minutes whilst arguing over the referee, but at 10.00am the fight was
ready. John Heenan, a 14-stone Hercules was the first to come to the scratch,
and the crowd cheered him and his 2 seconds, Jack MacDonald and Tom Sayers
(a former prizefighter and British champion himself). Heenan was born in
New York of Irish parents and had come to England after running out of opponents
in America. His challenger this day was Tom King, a stone lighter than Heenan,
who had learnt his fighting skills in the Navy. They were fighting for the
championship and a purse of 1000 guineas.
The first couple of rounds were inconclusive with Heenan using his strength
to wrestle King to the ground while King used his superior punching to keep
him at bay. However round 3 went against King and he was brought down heavily
by Heenan; by round 6 or 7 it looked as if it was over for King, but by round
8 King seemed revived and began to match Heenan’s strength and wrestling
tactics with his punching skill. To the delight of the crowd the American’s
strength seemed to be faltering. With immense effort, round 14 went to Heenan,
but after that the fight tilted to King’s advantage, Heenan’s physical exertions
having been too great; King finally won in the 24th round when Heenan’s supporters
threw in the towel.
So ended the fight, but George Courthope, the local magistrate, hearing about
the fight as he was heading to the station, intervened and all the principals
were charged and appeared at the Lewes Quarter Session the following spring.
They pleaded guilty, but were bailed (a kind of suspended sentence), but
as this was effectively the last such fight, that was the end of the matter.
The new era of boxing arrived – and Wadhurst retains its place in history
as the venue for the last great prizefight.
Martin Turner
14 Dec: Annual General Meeting
Yet again an excellent turnout for an AGM - this year without the lure of
a free book! Business was transacted rapidly - a new trustee David James
was elected; John Breeze and Martin Turner retired with our thanks for their
service and support to the Society since its beginning. The meeting then
endorsed the composition of the committee as set out on p.94, Madelyn Meredith
being added after the meeting to take over Martin Turner’s function of speaker/meeting
liaison.
The Society’s accounts for the year ending 30 Sep 2006 were presented by
Ian Adam-Smith and approved unanimously. In summary, income amounted to £5407.45
and expenditure to £2253.84;; asserts include £952 for copies of our two
publications as yet unsold and £6155.12 in the bank (of which £1058.25 is
from tickets for the Bletchley Park visit). All in all an excellent position
for the Society to be in after three years - our thanks to our treasure Ian
Adam-Smith and to Tony Willatts for acting as examiner.
David James then summarised the work of the task groups over the year and
explained the focus of work for most groups for the next year - the period
from the mid nineteen thirties through to the mid nineteen forties, looking
at the impact of World War II on Wadhurst; the end product would be a third
book, hopefully in time for Christmas 2007.
In the absence of Rachel Ring, Heather Woodward then ran over the visits
and outings since the last AGM and sought the membership view on proposed
visits for 2007.
The meeting then closed to allow for the mulling of wine and the heating
of mince pies, During that interval, Robin Head and Martin Turner gave brief
talks: Robin described his summer holidays - with Sky TV exploring, and filming
for broadcast in early 2007, the royal connections of his wife’s family;
Martin showed a short film on pig droving in Sussex (filmed at Little Pell
Farm for the High Weald AONB Unit) and explained its connection with the
sunken lanes and footpaths in the Weald.
Everyone then relaxed - and got into the Christmas spirit.
Outings and Events for 2007
DOVER CASTLE We start our full programme of outings and social events with a trip on Saturday 28th April. Departure will be at 08:15 from the Greyhound returning to Wadhurst about 18:00. The cost, to include a conducted tour of the Secret Wartime Tunnels, is : £17 to non English Heritage Members and £10.50 for members. Please note the difference in costs and that if you are an English Heritage member you will need to show your membership card on entrance or pay the full sum on the day. Places may be booked at the February WHS meeting or by post from Rachel Ring, Chestnuts, Stone Cross Road, Wadhurst TN5 6LR.
ROMNEY MARSH CHURCHES A full day to the Marshes is organised for Saturday 9th June. Departure from the Greyhound at 08:45, home by approximately 17:30. The cost of £26 includes visits to four churches with a guide, morning tea/coffee, a ploughman’s lunch with tea/coffee and a WI afternoon tea. Bookings will be taken from March.
BARBECUE Our fourth annual barbecue is on Sunday 29th July. Cost and venue to be given soon.
QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 29th September at the Commemoration Hall. Your committee thought it would be a first for Wadhurst to host a quiz devoted entirely to historical questions. With two former history teachers on the management team they will be masterminding this element of the proceedings and we should be in for a very interesting evening. We are promised that there will be a level of difficulty for everyone! It is envisaged that we will have four rounds of questions, a supper, followed by a film. Tables will be for 6 people. Please book this exciting evening out now in your diaries. Further details later in the year.
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AND ELTHAM PALACE
I am having great difficulty tying this outing up because of the tight time
schedules the Houses have over guides and we need three consecutive departure
times. The pencilled-in date is Tuesday 16th October but until around May
I shall not know from Charles Hendry’s secretary for sure as she cannot book
tours more than six months in advance. I had a date but it would have meant
a departure from Wadhurst at 07:00 because of commuter traffic into London.
On 16th October, we will begin with a 1½ hour tour, hopefully around 10:30,
then half an hour with Charles. A break for light refreshment in the café
at the Houses of Parliament. and on to Eltham Palace for an afternoon guided
tour. Home by approximately 18:30. Again watch this space but make a note
of the date.
AGM December 13th. After the business element perhaps some imported entertainment
to set the scene for the festive season. Rachel Ring