A WELL known and much-loved local personality who served Southampton Amateur Boxing Club for over 60 years, has died.

Don Robertson, who was a boxer, trainer, secretary and life vice president, died aged 81 having suffered with heart problems.

Born in the dockland area of Southampton, Don attended Deanery school and went on to serve an apprenticeship as a toolmaker and developed a career in Southampton industry, working as a fitter tuner at Harland & Wolff, a technical supervisor at Mullards, production engineer at Standard Telephones & Cables, Group Personnel Manager and Training Manager at Gascoigne, Gush and Dent, before aspiring to become a Senior Lecturer in HR and Management at Solent University, retiring in 2001 He was also a senior aircraft person during his national service in the Royal Air Force from 1960 to 1962.

Don started boxing at St John’s Boys Club aged 13 and later joined Southampton Amateur Boxing Club. He boxed for many years and competed in tournaments all around the UK and in Germany and France. He was a welterweight ABA southern champion in 1957-58 and fought Olympic gold medallist Dick McTaggartt and although he lost, he proudly went the distance!

As a trainer, many local boxers, including some who went on to perform professionally, have benefited from Don’s expertise and guidance.He was well known on the boxing circuit as an MC with his own brand of humour.

During the 1960’s, Don was a door supervisor at the popular Park Ballroom nightspot and was a corner man for the Dale Martin Promotions wrestling shows, held at the Royal Pier and Guildhall.

Don was a proud Sotonian and had a wealth of local history knowledge that he put to good use as a tour guide of the city and in regular talks for clubs and nursing homes.

He leaves his wife Valerie, four children and six grandchildren.