THE bell once used to call ‘last orders’ in Cortonwood Club has found a new use.
Recent Proud of Barnsley Special Recognition award winner Mick Wale has been given the bell from the trustees of Cortonwood Miners’ Welfare.
It is in recognition of his three decades running boxing gyms in the local area.
The Wale family gym, run by Mick and his son, the former British champion, Josh, is now on the left-hand side of the building on Knollbeck Lane, Brampton and has quickly established itself as a big part of the local community.
Another part of the building is a cafe, run by Josh’s younger brother, Dempsey, also a professional boxer and Josh himself is on the welfare’s committee.
A spokesman for the trustees said: “As Mick’s 30 years in boxing is such an achievement, the trustees has the bell reconditioned and engraved to commemorate his achievement.”
Mick has run gyms around the area, including in Wath, Wombwell, Mexborough and even in his Brampton backgarden.
He has a host of amateur boxers in his stable while Josh has ten professionals signed up.
He was given the Proud of Barnsley award in November for the work he has done in his community to help put youngsters on the straight and narrow.
Mick is not the only one to be honoured.
The spokesman added: “The trustees have also had a memorial bench to Sid Bailey OBE commissioned as he sadly died recently.
“Sid was a former chair of the Cortonwood Miners’ Welfare Charity trustees who have stewardship of the site.”
