The Pride of Poplar… A New Statue Comes to Town
On May 16th 2014, East London will be blessed with a brand new statue of former boxer, Teddy Baldock; one of the area’s most remarkable sons.
Teddy Baldock
Born in Poplar in May 1907 Teddy’s life was marked by triumph and tragedy.
In 1927 aged just 19 he fought his way to become Britain’s youngest ever boxing world champion; a record which remains to this day. In his rise to fame, Teddy amassed a fortune and became known as the ‘Pride of Poplar.’
Teddy mobbed by fans on his wedding day (image: The Daily Sketch, via London Ex-Boxer’s Association).
However, after suffering injury to his hand in the ring, the young boxer’s luck quickly began to diminish.
Although he managed to forge a second career as a bookmaker, Teddy had a generous nature which was exploited as he gave away thousands of pounds to people whom he thought were friends.
During WWII the former boxer served with the RAF. Whilst he was away, his finances suffered further as a number of properties he’d invested in back in London were destroyed by air-raids.
As the years progressed, Teddy began to drink and gamble heavily. His marriage collapsed and by the time he died in March 1971, Teddy was penniless and long forgotten, an elderly vagrant shivering out his final days on cruel streets and in stinking doss-houses.
In recent years, Teddy’s legacy has been revived with the publication of a biography and a campaign by his grandson, Martin Sax to have a statue erected.
Sculpture of Teddy in his prime.
After a successful campaign to raise funds, Martin’s dream has thankfully come to fruition.
Sculpted by Carl Payne, Teddy’s tribute will stand outside Langdon Park Community Sports College, Hay Currie Street where it is hoped it will inspire local youngsters. The site holds extra importance in that the college stands on the site of Teddy’s former childhood home.
Minature of Teddy’s Statue (image: London Ex-Boxer’s Association).
The unveiling is scheduled to take place between 3-6pm on May 16th 2014 and at the time of writing, actor Ray Winstone (himself a boxer in his younger days) is pencilled in to do the honours. Photos will appear on this site after the event if you can’t make it!
A detailed account of Teddy’s life can be found on his grandson Martin’s excellent website. Please click here for the link.
A Tribute to Bob Hoskins
I was deeply saddened today to hear that the actor, Bob Hoskins has died.
Bob Hoskins (image: Graham Barclay).
Bob Hoskins was born on 26th October 1942 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. His mother was a cook, his father a lorry driver. When Bob was just two weeks old, his family moved to Finsbury Park, North London, the area in which the future actor would grow up.
To me, Bob was the quintessential, working-class Londoner- a tough cookie with a gruff accent who, deep down, had a caring heart and a great sense of humour.
During his career, Bob Hoskins made many great films, several of which were based around his home turf….
The Long Good Friday (1980)
In this controversial film, Bob Hoskins played ‘Harold Shand’, an old school-gangster who, through circumstances beyond his control, becomes unnervingly entangled with the IRA…
In the final, terrifying scene, Harold Shand exits the Savoy Hotel and blunders straight into a trap….realizing all too late that his car has been seized by two IRA assassins (one of whom is played by a very young Pierce Brosnan).
As the gunmen drive their captive along The Strand towards Trafalgar Square, Harold Shand’s face twists through many emotions, ranging from anger to total despair. Click the video below to view this masterful piece of acting:
Mona Lisa (1986)
In Mona Lisa, Bob plays George, a recently released convict who secures the job of chauffeuring Simone, a high-class prostitute (played by Cathy Tyson).
Based around King’s Cross, when the area was a hellish red-light district, George and Simone soon form a close friendship. For this role, Bob gained an Oscar nomination; an accolade which he sadly never gained.
The film also features Sir Michael Caine, another wonderful London actor who is still thankfully very much with us.
Please click the video below to watch the opening sequence in which Bob Hoskins’ character, just out of prison, walks across Waterloo Bridge and back towards his estranged home.
Made in Dagenham (2010)
Made in Dagenham is based upon a true story in which female workers at the sprawling Ford car plant in Dagenham went on strike in 1968 in a call for equal pay. In the film, Bob plays Albert, a union rep who was very much in support of the women.
Please click below to view one of the film’s most moving scenes:
*
Rest in peace, Bob.
Bob Hoskins. 1942-2014
View from the Mirror 