Teacher was stalwart of Devonport Boxing club

Brian Edwards, for over four decades a stalwart of boxing, has died after a battle with cancer, aged 76.

Mr Edwards' long association with boxing began in the 1960s with Devonport Amateur Boxing Club in Plymouth, with whom he served with distinction in a variety of roles until his health began to fail him.

He was called "Mr Devonport Boxing Club" by one of the city's most successful professional boxers, Vernon Penprase. The latter fought Barry McGuigan before the legendary Irishman won his world featherweight crown.

Plymouth-born and bred, Mr Edwards was also well-known and admired as a teacher at a number of schools in the city.

A successful student of the now-defunct Sutton High School, in central Plymouth, Mr Edwards won a place at University College London, where he studied science, coming back to his beloved home city with a degree.

It was as maths teacher at the age of 24 at the then Stoke Secondary Modern School, that his long association with Devonport ABC and obsession with sport, particularly, boxing took a hold.

Noticing that a few of his pupils were involved at Devonport ABC, Mr Edwards went along to check it out and the rest, as they say, is history. It was the start of the 1960s and he was asked by then Devonport trainer "Flash" Acton to help out with the training.

Mr Edwards readily agreed, going on to become a boxing judge and found himself one year later as club secretary.

In 1970, still a full-time teacher and continuing his role as club secretary, Mr Edwards qualified as a schools boxing referee, a role he continued for 18 years.

Four years later, Mr Edwards became chairman of the English Schools Amateur Boxing Association, and in 1976 secretary of the Devon Amateur Boxing Association.

Modest and self-effacing, Mr Edwards' bluff personality masked a generous streak as wide as Royal Parade.

One example of his acts of kindness saw him buy boxing shoes for the boys at Devonport and when the club was denied Lottery funding, he stepped in and purchased two minibuses.

Mr Edwards was the backbone of Devonport ABC for 47 years. He was also delighted to mark the club's 50th anniversary last October.

Mr Edwards, who remained a bachelor, is survived by his two sisters, Diane Gray and Julia Percy.

He was born in Plymouth in May 13, 1935, and died on Sunday, July 17.

Mr Edwards' funeral service will be on August 4, at St Paul's in Durnford Street, Stonehouse, with a private committal at Weston Mill crematorium.

It is planned to hold a celebration of Mr Edwards' life at the New Continental Hotel the same evening – a fitting end – as Devonport ABC held many successful boxing shows there.