Boxing and the Wild Years

At St Mary’s, Alwyn was a dedicated boxer, a county champion and a national boys’ club champion. It was his favorite sport, and a coach once told him he could be a world champion if he stopped drinking and trained properly. Sadly, Alwyn was about to enter his “wild years”. He no longer follows boxing because he feels that professional boxing has corrupted the sport.

Football and Education Journey

Losing contact with boxing, Alwyn was introduced by Michael Casey to play football for the old boys, then moved to Sidcup Football Club at the request of manager Charlie Aughterlony. He played alongside friends like Phil French, Michael Cannon, and Neville Wilkinson, forming a strong partnership with Ted Robinson, with Ted on the right wing and Alwyn playing inside. After two successful seasons, Alwyn joined Basingstoke. While working at an engineering company, he was dissatisfied with the training opportunities. Seeking further education, he attended courses at Southampton University, studying American social history and economics. Once he completed his studies, he moved on.

Experiences in Industry and Trade

Alwyn, a lifelong socialist, briefly produced a broadsheet, writing most of it himself. One day, a colleague mentioned he was going to an interview at Sainsbury’s distribution depot and suggested Alwyn join him. The friend got the job, but while waiting, the Personnel Manager offered Alwyn a job too. In 4-5 years, he was elected Senior Steward, a full-time, paid role with his own office and staff. The job was great, and Sainsbury’s supported his further studies. He got to know the Sainsbury brothers and directors like Sir Roy Griffiths and Gurth Hoyer Miller (396^th in line for the throne, or so he said). There were challenges, but also mutual respect. During this time, he joined a small team that visited European workplaces to report on the effectiveness of Worker Directors, with reports submitted to Lord Bullock.

Football Coaching Experience

Having studied for his FA badges, Alwyn began coaching in schools and communities and started a boys’ football team, Sherborne Boys, named after the village of Sherborne he then lived in. The club was successful enough to attract the attention of Arsenal through Tony gibb, one of their scouts. Alwyn became involved with the Football Foundation, a charity set up by Littlewoods, which provided grants to football clubs.  They used the money to build changing rooms and a large hall for various sports with the help of an architect and a quantity surveyor. The project was co-funded by various sources, including,local charities and the National Lottery. The structure still stands today.

Journey With Rheumatoid Arthritis

In 1992 he developed joint pains that migrated around his body. Despite the challenges, he recovered and started competitive road running at the age of 60, achieving significant success. For example, he clocked a 7.5 minute mile at age 71. However, at 77, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, potentially a form of cancer affecting his bones. Despite the diagnosis, Alwyn remained active, walking 4-5 miles and working, and continues to be treated. A stress test showed him to be as fit as a forty- year-old. It must have been all that football and running!

Diverse Paths of Old Schoolmates

Throughout career and life Alwyn has kept in touch with friends from school days. Some went on to ultra-successful careers, like international banker, captain of industry, athlete, or actor. He’s visited with some in America and is particularly fond of the Blue Ridge Mountains and New York State.

Current Life and Reflections

Alwyn and Marion live in a renovated farm cottage in the village of Tawstock close to Barnstaple in Devon, with sufficient land for Marion’s horses. He created a beautiful garden including an animal graveyard and pond for koi carp. But they’re planning to relocate to a smaller property due to the workload of maintaining the current garden.

He and Marion have 4 daughters, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Soon to hit 85, he continues to be an avid reader, photographer and gardener. He has been a passionate rugby fan for many years, a member of Cardiff Athletic Club’s Rugby Section and a regular spectator at Cardiff Arms Park and other rugby games across Wales.

Despite a twinge of regret when he didn’t fully dedicate himself to boxing, Alwyn’s content. As he should be for a life well lived. Except for a few wild years.