Conclusion

My late father’s and uncle’s friend, Paddy Donovan taught me and my brothers how to do some boxing moves when I was a kid, and it was fun. I knew he had been pretty good and had represented New Zealand at the Empire (Commonwealth) Games. He died yesterday and while I was looking for his death notice, I saw there was an obituary in the local Hawkes Bay newspaper. To my surprise I found out about the Paddy I didn’t know. Paddy the boxing champion.

Paddy won bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1958 and 1962. He also boxed in the Olympic Games in 1956 and 1964. He should have been at 1960 Olympics but was a ‘controversial omission’ from the New Zealand team (I am sure this is great story which he has taken to the grave). Impressive record yes, but he did not just box, he also played rugby for the Hawkes Bay Magpies.