The photo (Gazette, November 24) of Jock Porter with trainer Sid Humphreys renewed memories.

Could it have been taken in East Stockwell Street, Colchester? Jock sometimes did his training on the grass slope in the Castle Park.

I have watched most of the police boxing in my time, including two other Jocks, Hisk and Morrison.

My favourites were Tom Ledgar and Johny Edwards.

Johnny Bird and Ted Went trained at Pages, in Long Wyre Street, and boxed as special constables.

Some time ago I was invited to a Colchester Recalled meeting to talk on my young life in Colchester. I mentioned dad used to take me to the boxing meetings at the garrison gym, in Abbey Fields.

After dad died in 1929, his sister, Aunt Lilla, gave me the money and I went on my own.

On the way home I was stopped by PC Barton, who asked what I was doing out that late.

A lady in the audience said PC Barton couldn’t spell very well. I said I was unaware of that, but the lady replied he once arrested a man in Maidenburgh Street for being drunk and disorderly. He couldn’t spell Maidenburgh, so he dragged him into the High Street.

Ted Cant
Alderton Road
Colchester