Diamond Jubilee celebrations kick off

This weekend sparks a deluge of Diamond Jubilee celebrations as the Queen marks her 60th year on the throne.

She isn’t the only one celebrating 60 years. A host of businesses will also be hanging out the bunting; British Motor Corporation, Cartwright Group, Holiday Inn and Jindal Group are some of the businesses to also reach 60 years.

Back in 1952 the European Parliament Assembly, which eventually becomes the European Union, held its inaugural meeting with six members; Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy and Netherlands.

Winston Churchill led his second government, and the following were born; Allan Wells (100m gold medallist in Moscow 1980), actor Liam Neeson, The Clash’s Joe Strummer, and actress Jenny Agutter.

The infamous Sands Hotel opened on the Las Vegas Strip, Singin’ in the Rain and High Noon hit the cinema’s and New Musical Express begin UK Singles Chart, with ‘Here In My Heart’ sung by Al Martino as the first ever number one.

Manchester United captured the league title, with Newcastle United won the FA Cup, and in boxing, the unbeaten American heavyweight Rocky Marciano knocked out champion Jersey Joe Walcott to win the undisputed World Heavyweight Title.  

My father, Leighton Dealer, loved boxing and would regale me and my brother Armitage Dealer with stories of boxing gladiators of old.

He loved Jack Dempsey, heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926, for his raw aggression and adored Joe Louis, champ from 1937 to 1949, for his natural talent. He never forgave Marciano for the beating he dished out to The Brown Bomber in 1951 and willed Walcott to victory, even though Jersey Joe was 38.

However, his favourite boxer remained Len Harvey from Cornwall. He boxed 136 fights from the age of 12 in 1920 until he was 36 in 1942 capturing British titles at middleweight, light-heavy and heavyweight.

He held the British Empire championship at light-heavy and heavyweight as well as being recognised as world light-heavyweight champion in Britain from 1939–1942. Often described as a great tactician and defensive boxer, he took NWA middleweight champion Marcel Thil the distance in 1932, and was narrowly beaten by the world light heavyweight champ John Henry Lewis in 1936.

I digress, the four day weekend will be celebrated accordingly in the Laurie Dealer household, and I wish long life and good health to you all. Hip-hip…