Don Cockell
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Donald John Cockell (22 September 1928 – 18 July 1983) was an English boxer who competed from 1946 to 1956. One of the most well known boxers from the UK during the era, Cockell held the British and European light heavyweight titles, and later moved up in weight to become the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion. He is best remembered for fighting against Rocky Marciano for the world heavyweight championship.
Over the course of Cockell's career he defeated a number the of top heavyweights of the time, including Roland La Starza, Harry Matthews (three times), Tommy Farr, Freddie Beshore, Johnny Arthur, Johnny Williams and Uber Bacilieri. In his earlier incarnation as a Light Heavyweight he defeated top contenders such as Nick Barone, Albert Yvel, Lloyd Marshall and Albert Finch, holding regional titles in both weight incarnations.
Early life
His full name was Donald John Cockell and he was born on 22 September 1928 in Balham, London, the son of Mary Cockell, a domestic servant from Battersea. He never knew his father. He was a blacksmith by trade, and as a result developed a strong physique. He began boxing in fairground booths and soon rose through the amateur ranks until he was ready to turn professional in 1946.
Professional career
Light-heavywight
Cockell had his first professional fight on 26 June 1946 against Trevor Lowder and won it by a knockout in the fifth round. He won 24 of his first 26 fights (suffering his first two losses to Jock Taylor). From there continued to build up an impressive fighting record marred by the occasional defeat.
In 1950 Cockell entered a brief tournament to crown a new British light-heavyweight champion, recently vacated due to the retirement of Freddie Mills. Cockell defeated Jimmy Carroll in an eliminator match (avenging a previous loss to him in the process) before facing Mark Hart on 17 October at Harringay Arena. Cockell won the BBBofC title after scoring a knockout in the fourteenth round.[1]
Cockell fought and won two more fights against future Hall of Famer Lloyd Marshal, before challenging the Frenchman Albert Yvel for his European light-heavyweight title. The bout took place on 27 March 1951 at Earls Court, London, and Cockell won the title by scoring a technical knockout in the sixth round.
Cockell had two more wins before defending his British and European titles against Albert Finch, who had previously been British welterweight champion. The bout was held on 16 October 1951, at Harringay Arena, and Cockell won by a knockout in the seventh round.
Cockell decisively lost his next fight against the American heavyweight Jimmy Slade. Fighting at Harringay Arena, Cockell was knocked down twice in the first round, once in the second, and twice more in the fourth. The referee then stopped the fight. Cockell followed this defeat with a points win against Italian light-heavyweight Renato Tontini, despite being knocked down twice in the second round.
Cockell then fought against Randolph Turpin, who the year before, had become one of the few to defeat Sugar Ray Robinson, becoming world middleweight champion as a result before losing his title in the rematch. Cockell was defending his British title, and both fighters were contesting the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title. The bout was at the White City Stadium on 10 June 1952. Cockell was knocked down three times during the fight and lost on a technical knockout in the eleventh round. One of the reasons for the defeat was the difficulty that Cockell had in making the weight for light-heavyweight fights. He therefore decided to fight subsequently as a heavyweight.
Heavyweight
Cockell found success at heavyweight, and in his next three heavyweight fights, all were won by technical knockouts. The third one was against the Welshman, Tommy Farr, who had been an excellent heavyweight, fighting against the great Joe Louis, but who was now at the end of his career, and although experienced, had aged quite a bit.
The fight against Farr was a final eliminator for the British heavyweight title, and so put Cockell in line for a title challenge against the holder Johnny Williams. The bout for the British and Commonwealth titles was held at Harringay Arena on 12 May 1953, and Cockell won on points over fifteen rounds.
Cockell then had two more wins before defending his Commonwealth title against Johnny Arthur in Johannesburg, South Africa. He won the fight on points after fifteen rounds.
In 1954, Cockell moved rapidly up the heavyweight rankings by scoring four wins against top rated American fighters. He first defeated heavyweight challenger Roland La Starza on points at Earls Court Arena, then won three close successive victories over the highly rated Harry (Kid) Matthews, the second fight was held at the White City Stadium, and the first and third at Sicks' Stadium, Seattle.
These victories put him in line for a title fight against undefeated heavyweight world champion Rocky Marciano. This was the first British world title bid since Tommy Farr had fought Joe Louis in 1937.
World heavyweight title fight
On 16 May 1955, Cockell fought Marciano for the world heavyweight title at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, CA. Cockell was a 10–1 underdog and weighed 14 st 9 lbs against Marciano's 13 st 7 lbs, coming into the fight weighing 205 pounds to Rocky's 189. For the first three rounds the fight was fairly even, but as it progressed further Cockell began to take more and more punishment, without being able to hurt Marciano much. Cockell ended the eighth round hanging through the ropes after withstanding a terrific beating. Marciano won the fight by a technical knockout 54 seconds into round nine after Cockell had been knocked down twice, for counts of eight and seven. After the fight, Marciano stated, "He's got a lot of guts. I don't think I ever hit anyone else any more often or harder."
Many boxing fans in Britain felt that Marciano employed unfair tactics, such as hitting after the bell and low punches, but although the British Boxing Board of Control protested, Cockell himself made no complaints.
In covering the fight for Sports Illustrated, Budd Schulberg wrote in the 30 May 1955 edition, "Except for the technicality of wearing eight-ounce gloves, Don Cockell's stand against Rocky Marciano in the fading daylight hours of a cool San Francisco sunlit day was a glorious—or appalling—throwback to this pre-Marquess of Queensberry condition. This was a bare-knuckle brawl with gloves—and not a pleasant sight either—as an uncouth, merciless, uncontrolled and truly vicious fighter (the unbeaten Champion Marciano) wore down an ox-legged, resolute fat man who came into the ring with the honor of the British Empire weighing heavily—and consciously—on his massive, blubbery shoulders. He had promised his Union Jack supporters that he would not let them down, and the first words he mumbled through swollen lips after his fearful beating in nine rounds were an apology to his fellow countrymen for not having done better."
Jack Gallagher of the Oakland Tribune praised Cockell's brave effort, writing, "The fight was all Rocky's from the beginning. The Englishman showed amazing capacity for soaking up punishment."
Aftermath
The title fight had taken much out of Cockell, and he lost his subsequent two fights. In September 1955 he lost to the Cuban contender Nino Valdes at the White City Stadium by a technical knockout in the third round. He weighed 15 st 6 lbs for the fight. In April 1956 he was knocked out in the second round by Kitione Lave, known as the "Tongan Terror". That was his final fight. In May 1956 he was stripped of his Commonwealth title and in July he surrendered his British title and declared his retirement.
Cockell sued the Daily Mail after the newspaper had described him as being 'overweight and flabby' for his last fight, and not giving his all. He received £7,500 damages with costs.
Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | Loss | 66–14–1 | Kitione Lave | KO | 2 (10) | 24 Apr 1956 | Earls Court Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 80 | Loss | 66–13–1 | Niño Valdés | RTD | 3 (10) | 13 Sep 1955 | White City Stadium, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 79 | Loss | 66–12–1 | Rocky Marciano | TKO | 9 (15), 0:54Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 16 May 1955 | Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | For NYSAC, NBA and The Ring heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 78 | Win | 66–11–1 | Harry Matthews | RTD | 7 (10) | 31 Jul 1954 | Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 77 | Win | 65–11–1 | Harry Matthews | PTS | 10 | 1 Jun 1954 | White City Stadium, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 76 | Win | 64–11–1 | Roland La Starza | PTS | 10 | 30 Mar 1954 | Earls Court Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 75 | Win | 63–11–1 | Johnny Arthur | PTS | 15 | 30 Jan 1954 | Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, South AfricaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Retained Commonwealth heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 74 | Win | 62–11–1 | Uber Baccilieri | PTS | 10 | 5 Oct 1953 | Granby Halls, Leicester, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 73 | Win | 61–11–1 | Harry Matthews | SD | 10 | 7 Aug 1953 | Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 72 | Win | 60–11–1 | Johnny Williams | PTS | 15 | 12 May 1953 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Won British and Commonwealth heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 71 | Win | 59–11–1 | Tommy Farr | TKO | 7 (12) | 9 Mar 1953 | Ice Rink, Nottingham, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 70 | Win | 58–11–1 | Frank Bell | TKO | 8 (10), 2:20Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 4 Nov 1952 | Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 69 | Win | 57–11–1 | Paddy Slavin | TKO | 2 (10), 1:29Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 14 Oct 1952 | Streatham Ice Rink, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 68 | Loss | 56–11–1 | Randolph Turpin | TKO | 11 (15) | 10 Jun 1952 | White City Stadium, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Lost British light-heavyweight title; For vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 67 | Win | 56–10–1 | Renato Tontini | PTS | 10 | 20 May 1952 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 66 | Loss | 55–10–1 | Jimmy Slade | TKO | 4 (10), 2:39Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 4 Dec 1951 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 65 | Win | 55–9–1 | Albert Finch | KO | 7 (15), 0:45Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 16 Oct 1951 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Retained British and European light-heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 64 | Win | 54–9–1 | Nick Barone | KO | 6 (10) | 5 Jun 1951 | White City Stadium, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 63 | Win | 53–9–1 | Freddie Beshore | PTS | 10 | 24 Apr 1951 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 62 | Win | 52–9–1 | Albert Yvel | TKO | 6 (15) | 27 Mar 1951 | Earls Court Empress Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Won European light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 61 | Win | 51–9–1 | Lloyd Marshall | KO | 1 (10), 0:35Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 27 Feb 1951 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 60 | Win | 50–9–1 | Lloyd Marshall | DQ | 7 (10), 1:10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 14 Nov 1950 | Earls Court Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Marshall disqualified for a low blowScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 59 | Win | 49–9–1 | Mark Hart | KO | 14 (15), 2:50Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 17 Oct 1950 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Won vacant British light-heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 58 | Win | 48–9–1 | Jimmy Carroll | RTD | 7 (12) | 4 Apr 1950 | Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 57 | Win | 47–9–1 | Lloyd Barnett | PTS | 8 | 14 Mar 1950 | Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 56 | Loss | 46–9–1 | Aaron Wilson | PTS | 8 | 28 Feb 1950 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 55 | Win | 46–8–1 | Georges Rogiers | PTS | 8 | 13 Feb 1950 | Granby Halls, Leicester, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 54 | Loss | 45–8–1 | Aaron Wilson | KO | 6 (8) | 24 Jan 1950 | Earls Court Empress Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 53 | Win | 45–7–1 | André Lefranc | TKO | 5 (8) | 17 Jan 1950 | Streatham Ice Rink, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 52 | Win | 44–7–1 | Charlie Collet | TKO | 1 (8), 1:35Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 20 Dec 1949 | Corn Exchange, Reading, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 51 | Win | 43–7–1 | Don Mogard | PTS | 8 | 31 Oct 1949 | Granby Halls, Leicester, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 50 | Win | 42–7–1 | Gabriel Bigotte | KO | 1 (8) | 11 Oct 1949 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 49 | Win | 41–7–1 | Bert Gilroy | PTS | 8 | 13 Jun 1949 | Granby Halls, Leicester, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 48 | Loss | 40–7–1 | Jimmy Carroll | DQ | 5 (8) | 11 Apr 1949 | Ice Stadium, Nottingham, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Cockell disqualified for a low blowScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 47 | Win | 40–6–1 | Paddy Slavin | PTS | 8 | 29 Mar 1949 | Earls Court Empress Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 46 | Win | 39–6–1 | Mark Hart | PTS | 8 | 7 Feb 1949 | Harringay Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 45 | Win | 38–6–1 | Lloyd Barnett | PTS | 8 | 31 Jan 1949 | Granby Halls, Leicester, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 44 | Win | 37–6–1 | Doug Richards | KO | 5 (8) | 7 Dec 1948 | Corn Exchange, Reading, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 43 | Win | 36–6–1 | Johnny Barton | PTS | 8 | 29 Nov 1948 | Cossington Street Baths, Leicester, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 42 | Win | 35–6–1 | Gene Fowler | PTS | 8 | 25 Oct 1948 | Grand Pier Pavilion, Weston-super-Mare, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 41 | Loss | 34–6–1 | Johnny Barton | PTS | 8 | 11 Oct 1948 | Granby Halls, Leicester, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 40 | Win | 34–5–1 | Henry Palmer | KO | 5 (6) | 13 Sep 1948 | Corn Exchange, Newbury, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 39 | Win | 33–5–1 | Gene Fowler | PTS | 6 | 6 Sep 1948 | Southampton, Hampshire, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 38 | Loss | 32–5–1 | Johnny Williams | TKO | 2 (8), 3:00Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 27 Jul 1948 | Embassy Rink, Birmingham, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 37 | Win | 32–4–1 | Trevor Burt | KO | 1 (6), 1:47Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 19 Jul 1948 | Southampton, Hampshire, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 36 | Win | 31–4–1 | Dave Goodwin | TKO | 2 (8) | 5 Jul 1948 | Ice Rink, Nottingham, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 35 | Win | 30–4–1 | Battling Joe Igo | RTD | 4 (8), 3:00Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 14 Jun 1948 | Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 34 | Win | 29–4–1 | Johnny Williams | PTS | 8 | 18 May 1948 | Highfield Road, Coventry, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 33 | Win | 28–4–1 | Koffi Kiteman | TKO | 5 (8) | 10 May 1948 | Ice Rink, Nottingham, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 32 | Win | 27–4–1 | Paddy Roche | TKO | 3 (8) | 12 Apr 1948 | Corn Exchange, Newbury, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 31 | Win | 26–4–1 | Gene Fowler | RTD | 3 (6), 3:00Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 8 Mar 1948 | Baths Hall, Swindon, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 30 | Win | 25–4–1 | George Barratt | KO | 1 (6) | 23 Feb 1948 | Corn Exchange, Newbury, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 29 | Win | 24–4–1 | Jimmy Carroll | KO | 4 (8) | 17 Feb 1948 | Assembly Rooms, Tunbridge Wells, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 28 | Loss | 23–4–1 | Reg Spring | PTS | 8 | 4 Feb 1948 | Caledonian Road Baths, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 27 | Template:DrawDraw | 23–3–1 | Jimmy Carroll | PTS | 8 | Jan 12, 1948 | Town Hall, High Wycombe, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 26 | Win | 23–3 | Reg Spring | TKO | 5 (8) | 18 Nov 1947 | Town Hall, High Wycombe, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 25 | Loss | 22–3 | Dave Goodwin | RTD | 7 (9), 3:00Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 11 Aug 1947 | Drill Hall, Yeovil, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Contest was scheduled for 9 rounds as Cockell was under 19 years of ageScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 24 | Win | 22–2 | Reg Spring | PTS | 10 | 4 Aug 1947 | Kettering Cricket Ground, Kettering, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 23 | Win | 21–2 | Trevor Burt | TKO | 10 (10) | 28 Jul 1947 | Corn Exchange, Reading, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | Paddy Roche | PTS | 8 | 21 Jul 1947 | Grand Pier Pavilion, Weston-super-Mare, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 21 | Win | 19–2 | Arthur Sadd | PTS | 6 | 7 Jul 1947 | Corn Exchange, Reading, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 20 | Win | 18–2 | Matt Hardy | KO | 7 (8) | 23 Jun 1947 | Grand Pier Pavilion, Weston-super-Mare, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 19 | Win | 17–2 | Ronnie Croad | KO | 3 (6) | 9 Jun 1947 | Wembley Town Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 18 | Win | 16–2 | Harold Anthony | KO | 4 (8) | 3 May 1947 | Corn Exchange, Newbury, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 17 | Win | 15–2 | Harold Anthony | PTS | 10 | 27 Jan 1946 | Kettering Baths Hall, Kettering, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 16 | Win | 14–2 | Jimmy Carroll | KO | 5 (10) | 20 Jan 1947 | Corn Hall, Cirencester, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 15 | Loss | 13–2 | Jock Taylor | KO | 6 (6) | 6 Jan 1947 | Town Hall, High Wycombe, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Battling Joe Igo | TKO | 4 (8) | 16 Dec 1946 | Kettering, Northamptonshire, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Jimmy Carroll | PTS | 6 | 2 Dec 1946 | Town Hall, High Wycombe, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Reg Spring | PTS | 10 | 25 Nov 1946 | Corn Hall, Cirencester, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Paddy Roche | PTS | 10 | 23 Nov 1946 | Dening's Hangar, Chard, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Frank Johnson | KO | 2 (8) | 4 Nov 1946 | Epsom Baths, Epsom, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Harry O'Grady | PTS | 6 | 14 Oct 1946 | Municipal Baths, Epsom, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 8 | Loss | 7–1 | Jock Taylor | PTS | 8 | 10 Oct 1946 | Watford Town Hall, Watford, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Jimmy Sales | KO | 2 (8) | 7 Oct 1948 | Town Hall, High Wycombe, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Trevor Lowder | KO | 3 (8) | 23 Sep 1946 | Rugby Co-operative Hall, Rugby, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Harry Lawrence | TKO | 2 (8) | 9 Sep 1946 | Town Hall, High Wycombe, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Ron Baker | KO | 3 (8) | 28 Aig 1946 | Watford Town Hall, Watford, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Frank Baldwin | TKO | 2 (8) | 31 Jul 1946 | Town Hall, High Wycombe, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Sid Watts | TKO | 1 (8) | 18 Jul 1946 | Watford Town Hall, Watford, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Trevor Lowder | KO | 5 (8) | 26 Jun 1946 | Town Hall, High Wycombe, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Retirement
He tried various jobs including running a farm, being a publican, and running a haulage firm based at Ninfield in East Sussex. By 1975 he was working as a craftsman blacksmith in the permanent way machine shops at the London Underground Lillie Bridge Depot in Fulham.[2] His last job was as an emergency maintenance man. He died of cancer on 18 July 1983 at a hospital in Tooting. He was married to Patricia Mary Cockell and had a son Patrick and Brother (David Hammond) worked with him
Footnotes
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ National Union of Railwaymen, The Railway Review, 21 March 1975, p.8.
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".