MEMBERS of Lowe House Boxing Club are mourning the death of a former fighter, trainer and leader who gave a lifetime of service to the Halefield Street 'stable', writes Denis Whittle.

Albert Freeman (72) died in Warrington General Hospital on Sunday after suffering a heart attack. He had recently undergone a partial amputation of the right leg.

He leaves his widow Margaret, daughter Jackie and grandchildren Craig and Danielle.

Raised in Kirkland Street and an old boy of Lowe House school, Albert first entered the square ring as an 11-year-old during the war years, at the club formed by Father Robert Finnemore and Dick Cowell in 1932, and carried on by Fathers Herman De Caires and Francis Kelly.

Initially a bantam-weight, he quickly made his mark as a skilful, hard-punching exponent of the 'noble art,' and such was Albert's dedication to aspiring youngsters and training that he was the obvious choice to succeed his mentor Dick Cowell.

Household names like Eric Marsden, Jim Molloy, Bill Connor, Emmett Kenny, Ray Shiel, Frank Drury, Arthur Halsall, Tommy McNamara, Jim Keenaghan and Arthur Cunningham rolled easily off the tongue during Cowell's reign and, once in the trainer's corner, Freeman maintained the proud amateur boxing traditions of Lowe House.

His guiding influence and fistic know-how meant that hundreds of youngsters were skilfully schooled in the rudiments of the boxing, with the names of eight times ABA champion John Lyon and brothers George and Ray Gilbody springing readily to mind.

Bill Connor said: "There is no doubt that Lowe House Boxing Club made giant strides once Albert Freeman took the coaching reins. He was instrumental in promoting tournaments both in this country and abroad, with eagerly-awaited trips to Germany the high-point".

The funeral will take place at Lowe House church on a date yet to be finalised.