ON SUNDAY the Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford, Councillor Bob Villa and his wife Valerie reopened Chelmsford Amateur Boxing Club's gym at Harway House in Rectory Lane.
Together with Maureen Miller, the widow of a former ambassador of the boxing club, Bob Miller, they cut the claret ribbon after the generosity of local businessmen completed phase one of the refurbishment.
Nathan Jenner of SMB Group said: "Myself, Paul Mercer and some of my friends saw how the gym had run down and was in dire need of restoration, although what endeared me to the club was the atmosphere created by all of the volunteers working hard with the boys, girls, men and women.
"The training, the discipline and respect shown by every individual. I have been proud to have organised the rebuild and thank all my friends that have helped create a modern gym with modern facilities, including fresh changing rooms, toilets and showers."
Bob's brother Leslie, who also attended, said: "Bob will be looking down at this moment very proud. In 1974 he was in the same place announcing the reopening of Harway House, so it is a poignant time for us all."
Grant Riley the club's chairman said: "These are great times for the club, the boxers look sharp and ready for our charity boxing dinner at Boreham House on Thursday (tonight).
"Five of our boxers will be competing along with seven open class elite matches with boxers coming from all over South England including Finchley, Southend, Welwyn Garden City and Sevenoaks boxing clubs.
Chelmsford's matchmaker Graham Park said: "This has been a new experience for me with many phone calls made making matches then losing matches, but in the end it looks as though Thursday will be a blockbuster of a night.
"As well as some good wins for our Chelmsford boxers we hope to raise money for the club and Helen Rollason."
