As we step into the 2025/26 boxing season, the East Midlands community finds itself balancing remembrance and renewal. 

We honour the late Chrissy Harpin, a well-loved coach at Eastwood Amateur Boxing Club, who once had the bittersweet honour of facing Prince Naseem in the national finals. While that match cost him a national title, it was also a testament to his skill. Chrissy’s dedication extended far beyond his own bouts; he spent countless hours teaching boxing to children with disabilities. His life was tragically cut short in a motorbike accident, a loss that robbed our region of one of its brightest and most compassionate coaches.

We also remember Kevin Sheehan, a cornerstone of the Nottingham boxing community and a steady presence at Clifton ABC. Over the years, Kevin offered his support to countless boxers who are now coaches themselves, his influence quietly woven into the fabric of the sport.

Yet even as we remember, we look ahead. The South Derbyshire Boxing Academy’s new two-story gym, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and supported by the local council and MP Samantha Niblett who very kindly turned up on a training day to visit our gym and meet the boxers and coaches, stands ready to serve the next generation. Peter Robinson’s new 400 seat venue at Colliery Lane Lodges will offer a modern space for all our regions clubs to hold their shows and for our regional educators to hold courses, a sign of growth and community.
Also Robert Morton coach at Lions Den Newark tells me they moved into their new gym facility three weeks ago a modern large gym fit for lions and their cobs to learn and hone their craft.

And waiting for its moment is Jamal Khan’s appointment software, a tool that promises continuity and consistency. Where previous secretaries brought changing methods, this software offers a single, fair, and transparent approach, free from the perception of favoritism. It allows officials to build a record of their experience and helps new secretaries step in without confusion. Approving this software is not just a step forward; it’s a way of honouring the stability and progress that our region stands for.

In this way, we enter a new season—mindful of the past, but with our eyes on a future of steady growth and renewal.

Architect impression of the new venue being built by Peter Robinson at Colliery Lane Lodges