Celebrities pack a punch with their support for Remembering Benny Lynch campaign

Published: 10 August 2016

Scottish celebrities lined up alongside the Lord Provost to lend their weight to a campaign to commemorate local boxing legend Benny Lynch whom many consider the country's finest fighter. 

Gorbals born Benny Lynch was Scotland's first-ever world champion boxer. The Remembering Benny Lynch campaign group, which includes the sportsman's relatives, want a statue erected in his memory. Their fight has attracted the support of Lord Provost Sadie Doherty, campaign patron, actor Robert Carlyle, former world champion boxer Jim Watt MBE and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist boxer Charlie (the mailman always delivers) Flynn.

The Lord Provost said: "Like Benny Lynch, I grew up in the Gorbals where he's a local hero. So naturally, I'm delighted to lend my support to the Remembering Benny Lynch campaign."

Benny Lynch's son, Bobby and grand-daughter, Sharon, who live in Canada, made the trip to Glasgow City Chambers on Monday 8 August for a civic reception in honour of the campaign group.

There they met Eddie Wilson from Pollok, the son of Benny Lynch's trainer Sammy Wilson.

And an exhibition showcasing Benny Lynch's 1937 World and European Championship trophies, boxing gloves, a painting of the boxer by Glasgow artist Robert Millar and associated memorabilia was brought to the City Chambers especially for the event.

The Glasgow Life display was unveiled by Jim Watt at the Gorbals Library earlier this year just streets from where Benny Lynch was born. It's the first time both trophies have been on public show since the legendary boxer's death in 1946.

Bobby Lynch said: "My father was loved and admired by the citizens of this city and it means a lot to me and his legacy that the city is recognising his achievements after all these years. The level of support that this campaign has gained has been wonderful and to finally see a statue of my father in the city that he loved so much would be such an honour."

Robert Carlyle, who has expressed a long-held interest in making a film about his idol, said: "I've always loved the idea of a statue for Benny. I cannot think of anyone, past or present from the city of Glasgow who deserves it more. I've been an admirer of Benny Lynch for more years than I care to remember.

"He was a great hero of my father. My grandfather saw him fight on several occasions and the stories of his matches were passed on to my father, who passed them down to me - as I have with my own children. We should be proud of what this man has achieved and a statue in his honour is the very least his memory deserves."

Jim Watt said: "Benny is an inspiration to every sportsman who wore boxing gloves. He is a true Scottish hero and was our first world champion, proving to everyone that it could be done. A statue for Benny is long overdue and I will do everything I can to make it happen".

To donate go to Remembering Benny Lynch gofundme at: https://www.gofundme.com/8d2j5678