'Bert Favell - The Ipswich Boxer
Bert’s registered name was actually Cecil Bert Favell, but for whatever reasons, he seems to have just gone by the name Bert. Born in Suffolk in 1894, he was the son of Albert Favell, an agent for The Prudential Insurance Company, and Sarah (nee Richford). A sister, Constance, was born the following year and a brother Rowland Victor the year after. In 1900 twins Winifred Ladysmith Favell and Roberts Hector Horatio Favell arrived, their names reflecting their father Albert’s patriotism and fascination with the Boer war and events occurring in South Africa at the time.
The family was quite well off with Albert earning a good wage as Superintendent for the area and able to employ a full-time housekeeper and nurse-maid for the children. Not a bad position for the son of an Agricultural Farm Labourer from Hemingford Grey across the county border in Huntingdonshire.
Tragedy struck the family in 1902 when both twins and brother Rowland Victor were victims of a diphtheria epidemic and did not survive. Bert was the only child in the house not to catch the disease, with his sister Constance (Connie) luckily living away with relatives at the time. Young Bert somehow managed to avoid the disease. Being fairly robust, and that much older, probably helped. In 1907 another sister arrived, Ivy Primrose, named after Albert’s association with the Primrose League, being an enthusiastic supporter of the Conservatives most of his life. With 13 years difference in age, Ivy would always be the ‘kid sister’ that Bert looked out for and wrote in the coming years.
Bert was an active child, and I suspect a bit of a handful, but he joined the scouts and took part in various camps, learned to play the bugle in the band and gained his First-Aid badge. I suspect it was in the Scouts, or in the Territorial Army that he later joined, that he first learned to box. The son of a fairly well-off insurance Superintendent, living in a good house in Woodbridge, Suffolk, with a housemaid and nurse-maid does not at first look like an obvious candidate for a Boxer, and you have to wonder whether Bert’s next step in this direction was approved of.
However, Bert was just one generation away from the humble Farm Labourer’s life and his cousins, aunts and uncles were still doing just that, or had upped sticks and headed for places like London and Bradford to take up labouring and similar jobs in the burgeoning industrial areas. Bert may have found more in common with them than the office workers and clerks that his father now mixed with, although they would form some of his future ‘audience’
At some point Bert crossed paths with Mr Morbey, a boxing promoter who staged bouts at the Empress Rink in Ipswich. Primarily a roller-skating rink, it also served as a boxing arena with plenty of space to site a ring and ample seating for a Saturday night. In the period just before the First World War, reports of the contests held at the Empress Rink gained more prominence in local papers, including the report of Berts first foray into the semi-professional arena.
The East Anglian Daily Times on Monday February 10th 1913 reported under the headline ‘Boxing in Ipswich’: –
“The empress Rink on Saturday night exceeded expectations with a crowd of over 2,000. A large proportion of country people, parties having motored or driven from Hadleigh, Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Harwich, Stowmarket, Needham and even Bury St Edmund’s. Main interest was the meeting of heavy weights, well know George Marchant (Stepney) and Private Ransome (late Coldstream Guards). Proceedings opened with a six-round contest between Jack Sullivan (Sudbury) and Alf Roser (Ipswich).
The next bout was also over six rounds and went in favour of young French, who was up against another ‘local’ Bert Favell, but it was fight in which the loser had all the honours. Pounds lighter and much younger, he was palpably nervous at the start, but for three rounds surprised everyone by completely out-pointing his man. Afterwards however, his lack of stamina prevented him keeping out of the way of French’s heavy swings and he was frequently sent to the boards, but pluckily continued to the end, the audience giving him a rousing reception for his courageous exhibition. At the same time, there was no need for the feelings shown against French, who was there to win as much as his opponent was.”
His first appearance was obviously well received and good enough for him to secure another booking nearly a month later when, on Bert’s birthday, the same publication reported about the 1st March event: –
Saturday night was crowded. Jack Sullivan (Sudbury) and Bert Favell (Ipswich) met in a six-round contest, the interesting fact being announced that both lads were nineteen that day. Sullivan proved too clever for Favell, and though the latter put up a plucky fight he was well beaten on points.
At the end of the same month, Bert was back again, still battling, but not finding that elusive win. Mr Morbey must have felt that he was still worth booking, if only to provide some credible opposition for better known fighters. Bert was gaining experience, but it was not going to be easy. On Monday 31st March 1913 the East Anglian Daily Times reported: –
Bert Favell (Ipswich) and Johnny Donovan (Hoxton) met in a six rounds journey. The local showed plenty of pluck against a more experienced boxer, but after he had been sent down several times, the referee stopped the fight, and awarded the verdict to Donovan in the third round.
And again, on April 14th: –
Alf Roser and Bert Favell, two locals, were sent on to fill out the programme, but Roser was naturally too good and there was no surprise when Favell retired in the fourth round.
Bert was appearing on the billing, even if it was ‘B list’ rather than top billing and I presume was getting paid enough to make it worth his while. During the week he was working as a ‘wireman’s mate’ so would have been on a low wage while learning a trade as an electrician. Saturday nights and later even mid-week bouts would certainly bring some welcome extra money.
The Empress Rink was certainly getting more organised and drawing in the crowds who arrived at the nearby tram terminus or railway station.
“Mr Morbey is anxious to call special attention to the seating arrangements which have been so arranged that those at the back of the Rink will be able to have an unimpaired view of the ring.
Ticket holders will be admitted through the Motor Garage and those who have not booked to the 5s 4s 3s and 2s seats will be admitted at the Portman Walk entrance.
The entrance to the shilling seats will be from the door at the Hanford Road end of the building and the entrance to the 6d at the station end on the Portman Road.”
By mid-May the East Anglian Daily Times could finally report on a victory for Bert: –
Bert Favell (Ipswich) proved too good for Mattock (Dedham) and the bout was stopped. The country lad tried hard, but lacked the better knowledge of his opponent.
The result also found its way into ‘Boxing’ the newspaper printed in London “Bert Favell proved too good for Mattock, the bout being stopped in the 5th round to save the latter further punishment”.
The following month East Anglian Daily Times could report that on the 7th June: –
Two locals in Dick Thornton and Bert Favell followed, and also put up a spirited six rounds. After looking well beaten, Favell by sheer pluck, pulled the fight out of the fire. In this he was well served by his condition, which enabled him to come with a rush at the finish against a feast tiring opponent, and he deserved to share the honours, the referee awarding a draw.
The Evening Star and Daily Herald reported on the 16th July Wednesday night programme under the heading “Ipswich Boxing – Exciting bouts at the Empress Rink”.: –
“The management of the Empress Rink have never provided a better programme than that of Wednesday night… The first pair to take to the boards were Harry Hubbard and Bert Favell, both of Ipswich, and although the bout was only over six rounds it provided plenty of thrills from the start to finish. Hubbard who is a very muscular looking boy, certainly appeared to have strong physical advantages over Favell, but the latter showed that he was in no way intimidated, and by physically sticking to his man he earned a good draw. His head work and countering were particularly good”.
It was September before Bert returned to the ring and his initial defeats were now regularly ending in drawn bouts. The Sunday 14th fight not only got reported in the local Daily Times but the result also made the Sporting Life. The Times said: –
“Saturday’s programme commenced with a fast and well countered five-round contest between Bert Favell (Ipswich) and Jack Sullivan (Sudbury). Both were hard at it from the moment the gong sounded and the first two rounds were of an even nature. Favell subsequently got in some telling body blows but Sullivan fought gamely to the end and an interesting contest ended in a draw”.
Then in October, Bert gained another victory, even if it was an unusual decision following numerous knock downs: –
“The first pair to take to the ring were Young French and Bert Favell, both locals, the distance being over six rounds. From the first outset French made it evident that he was out to win, and discarding science altogether, sailed into his opponent as if his life depended on the result. Favell, lacking some years, proved game, but relied on orthodox boxing. However, he had to take several “counts”. French however, being cautioned on one occasion for excessive vigour when he threw his man to the floor. Favell stuck to his task and although very weak as a result of some heavy right swings from French, was on his feet at the finish. There was considerable applause when he was given the verdict, but most of it must have been from a sentimental point of view, and few boxers have won a fight in six rounds after having been sent down so many times”.
On Saturday night, 18th October 1913, Bert was matched once again with Jack Sullivan, who was exactly the same age. Bert had previously lost twice to Sullivan and drawn once. It would appear that Sullivan was getting more bouts than Bert, or had started in the professional ring a lot younger.
“Bert Favell (Ipswich) did well to extend a more experienced man in Jack Sullivan (Sudbury) over the full distance of six rounds. He lost the decision, but is rapidly coming along, and made quite a good fight against a boxer who has been in the game for years longer than he has.”
That seems to have been Bert’s last bout for the year and it was not until the February of 1914 that the local Times could report: –
“Over a similar distance, (6 rounds) Vic Bagueley and Bert Favell (both locals) went the same distance, Favell receiving the decision. This was fine bout each lad going for all his worth and refusing to give in, although both took so much punishment that either might have been excused.”
Two weeks later, Bert was back again, this time The Evening Star and Daily Herald reporting on Monday February 16th and covering around 1/3rd of a column of the broadsheet. Month by month the coverage of the bouts at the Empress Rink was increasing, probably reflecting on the popularity of the boxing matches held there and the ability to provide column inches that helped to sell the paper.
“In a special six-round return contest Bert Favell and Vic Bagueley put up a fast fight. Bagueley started at a tremendous rate, and took the first round easily. The next meeting saw Favell to better advantage, and he more than held his own, despite the fact that he was sent down for a count of eight. The next two rounds provided a terrible slam, and both fought themselves to a standstill. Bagueley was the stronger in the fifth meeting, Favell being unable to use his right hand. He kept on however, until the referee stepped in and stopped the bout, to save him from further punishment. Bagueley got the decision, of course, but the points between them were few”.
Mr Marney, the boxing promoter, had fingers in more than one pie, and an unexpected turn of events led to another of his events having to be hastily re-planned. Bert was required to appear at another venue, downstream of the River Orwell at Harwich where it met the River Stour and the Sea. Being on the other side of the estuary would have meant a ferry trip or a round about railway journey, to Dovercourt on the ‘beach’ side of the Harwich sea port.
Unbeknown to all, the Great War was just months away and it would not be until summer before the first signs of a war in Europe would emerge. The Royal Navy had always been the first line of defence for Britain and a concentration of the fleet had taken place a few years earlier in 1911 as an act of sabre rattling to Germany over moves in Africa. In March 1914 the 10th Harwich Destroyer Flotilla was first formed and would last until 1919. It would seem that things were already starting to happen: –
The East Anglian Daily Times of Monday March 30th 1914, under the heading “Victoria Hall Dovercourt” reported: –
“There was a complete change in the programme advertised to take place owing to the Flotilla being away from Harwich, but Mr Marney provided a capital show, notwithstanding, although three of the bouts that took place had very abrupt terminations…
A much more interesting bout was the six rounds between Bert Favell, Ipswich, and Alf Davis of Hoxton. The men showed little disposition to “get at it” in the first three rounds but subsequently their display improved considerably. In the fourth round Favell appealed for a foul, and as he had stopped fighting and the referee stated he did not see the foul, the decision was awarded to Davis. This was not at all to Favell’s liking, and the contest was resumed. The Hoxton lad appeared to have slightly the best of matters, and was declared the winner”.
In early April the local included another report, below the usual coverage of the Empire Rink, headed “Felixstowe.” It covers both competitive and exhibition boxing at the local Drill Hall: –
“A boxing competition in connection with the Felixstowe and Walton Territorial Boxing club was held at the drill hall, Felixstowe on Wednesday evening…
A large crowd assembled and some very interesting bouts were seen…
Bert Favell, of Ipswich and E Hughes of Felixstowe, also gave an exhibition”.
The last reports from the Empress Rink that mention Bert were in May and June, by which time I suspect that he is required more and more for drill and manoeuvres by the Territorial Army. One wonders who the usual boxing reporter actually was and how closely he was associated with the Empress Rink and with Mr Morbey, the promoter. Maybe they were one and the same? Either that, or Bert was an avid reader of the reports as a source of coaching. In the last reports before the outbreak of war and diversion to other duties, it is amusing how the criticism in the first report is corrected and leads to his victory in the second.
East Anglian Daily Times Monday May 18th 1914
“A hard-hitting boxer in George West, of Easton Park, proved too strong for a clever local in Bert Favell. The Ipswich boy is coming along rapidly, and showed signs of a left hand when he had time to think about it, but for the most part he forgot it.
His courage was unquestioned, and although having the worst of every round of a gruelling contest, managed to travel the whole of the journey. He naturally lost on points, but need not be discouraged. Had he remembered that his “left” could always reach his man’s face he would have made a much nearer thing of it.”
The Evening Star and Daily Herald – Ipswich Monday June 15th 1914 was a special evening edition with one of the six columns on the front page almost entirely devoted to boxing reports from the Empress Rink.
“Bert Favell (Ipswich) gained a good decision over Gunner Godfrey (Felixstowe) in six rounds, simply by hitting straighter. The Gunner made great play for the body, invariably being stopped however by Favell’s left to the face. The Felixstowe man took his punishment gamely enough and stayed the whole journey, although after the fourth round he had little chance of winning.”
Bert’s final mention in the Evening Star was on 23rd June 1914 in a feature advising of “Boxing – Special Show at Empress Rink” “The greatest night’s boxing ever staged in East Anglia” is the announcement at the top of Mr Morbey’s bill for tomorrow night”. Six bouts are listed with Bert once again facing Jack Sullivan. However, there is no mention of the match in the following newspaper reports, so the match probably never happened. I suspect world events had overtaken him and he was needed in the army.
He would not enter the ring again until after the war, and then only in exhibition bouts for a short time. Marriage, a family and other responsibilities probably made it unadvisable.
By the time he returned from the war and service at Gallipoli, Ypres and the Somme, his father had left the family and he found himself finically responsible for his mother, younger sister, and grandmother, but that as they say is another story!