Norwich Lads Club - home to three generations of the Webster family

It was 105 years ago when Chief Constable John Henry Dain established Norwich Lads Club and almost wiped out juvenile crime in the city.

A range of activities were on offer, but one stood out among all the others. Boxing and generations of lads from across the city and county climbed into the ring as boys and emerged as men.

Following in the family tradition. Former Lad Paul Webster and current Lad, son Kristian (Image: Graham Everett)

Among the young boxers in later years was Tony Webster, who will be 87 this year, and he was followed into the ring by his son Paul and now his grandson, Kristian.

Tony was a class act who turned professional, appeared on television, and had a large following across the Eastern Counties. 

In the 1950s he was often in our headlines and we described him as “lean and angular with a long reach and a solid punch in his right glove”.

Tony in the ring. Our man Ringsider described him as lean and angular with a long reach and a solid punch (Image: Family collection)

Born in the city, he went to the Norman School where he was a sprint champion, loved badminton, football and swimming.

But it was boxing that was closest to his heart. He told us how he read books about the sport before joining the Lads Club where the likes of Ginger Sadd were local heroes.

Tony was a class act, boxing first as a bantamweight and then as a featherweight.

These were the days of National Service. He joined the Army and was a member of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps boxing team.

Memories of Tony Webster’s boxing career. (Image: Family collection)

His boxing career took off when serving as a physical training instructor in Singapore where he was the district champion and won the bronze medal in the 1955 South East Asia Games.

Reports at the time said Tony had been narrowly beaten by a “tough Burma lad” and then took on the reigning South East Asia champion from Hong Kong.

“Webster surprised everyone. A contest which literally had everyone present cheering from the first to the last bell. He must be one of the most promising amateurs in the game today.”

Three of the best. Freddie King of Yarmouth on the left with two of his boxers, the much-loved George Blazeby, centre, and Tony Webster (Image: Family collection)

Back in Norfolk, Tony was awarded his county colours which were presented to his mother, and our correspondent, 'Ringsider' wrote: “She does not mind him boxing but admits she is always glad when the contest is over.”

Following his National Service, Tony returned home and became a popular professional boxer.

Tony Webster shaking hands with opponent Jimmy McLachlan at Wisbech in 1958, in a picture featuring many Norfolk boxers. Tony won on points (Image: Family collection)

The well-known promoter Freddie King took him under his wing and Tony boxed for several years, appearing on television and fighting at venues across the country including the Yarmouth Hippodrome, King’s Lynn Corn Exchange and Wisbech.

Married to the love of his life Pauline for 64 years, he went on to work on the oil rigs when he retired from the ring.

His son Paul also went on to became a boxer with the Lads Club, winning a junior ABA championship in the Eastern Counties.

And now Tony’s grandson Kristian, 19, is the latest member of the family to be a member what is now the Norwich Lads Amateur Boxing Club based the Hewett Academy in the city.

From Tony to Paul and now Kristian and from Chief Constable John Henry Dain in 1918 to Graham Everett and his team in 2023. Once a lad always a lad.