Byline: TONY GEE
Dear Editor, -I am a prize-ring historian currently writing a book on bareknuckle fighting in Scotland. One of the included pugilists is Bob Brettle, who fought out of Birmingham in the 1850s and 1860s and whose public house, the White Lion in Digbeth, was one of the city's major sporting houses.
His sister, Jeannie, is said to have married another famous Birmingham fighter, Harry 'Bodger' Crutchley.
Brettle was born in Portobello near Edinburgh but moved to Birmingham at a young age. He died in Duddeston on April 7, 1872 and was buried at Harborne. I would be extremely grateful for any unusual information or copies of associated material (obviously I would reimburse) that readers of The Birmingham Post may have relating to Brettle.
In particular, I am looking to track down a silver belt thought to have been featured on the Antiques Road Show c1989 and owned by a descendant of a well-known Birmingham sporting man, Charley Rose, as I would very much like to include a photograph of this in my book.
Birmingham has always had a strong bareknuckle tradition from the late 18th century (Isaac Perrins) to the late 19th century (Charlie Mitchell and Alf Greenfield). Again, any interesting information or associated material would be very gratefully received. (With regard to the latter, as prize-fights were deemed illegal, handbills and posters for fights would not have been printed but broadsides describing contests were produced in their thousands and fistic prints were popular.
I am also interested in 18th and 19th century pugilistic benefits and exhibitions in circuses, theatres and music halls, for which handbills, tickets or programmes may still be in existence. TONY GEE 8 Berkeley Close Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 2LG. Tel: 01707 651407
Letter: Gloves-off search for city prize-fighters.(Letters)Byline: TONY GEE
Dear Editor, -I am a prize-ring historian currently writing a book on bareknuckle fighting in Scotland. One of the included pugilists is Bob Brettle, who fought out of Birmingham in the 1850s and 1860s and whose public house, the White Lion in Digbeth, was one of the city's major sporting houses.
His sister, Jeannie, is said to have married another famous Birmingham fighter, Harry 'Bodger' Crutchley.
Brettle was born in Portobello near Edinburgh but moved to Birmingham at a young age. He died in Duddeston on April 7, 1872 and was buried at Harborne. I would be extremely grateful for any unusual information or copies of associated material (obviously I would reimburse) that readers of The Birmingham Post may have relating to Brettle.
In particular, I am looking to track down a silver belt thought to have been featured on the Antiques Road Show c1989 and owned by a descendant of a well-known Birmingham sporting man, Charley Rose, as I would very much like to include a photograph of this in my book.
Birmingham has always had a strong bareknuckle tradition from the late 18th century (Isaac Perrins) to the late 19th century (Charlie Mitchell and Alf Greenfield). Again, any interesting information or associated material would be very gratefully received. (With regard to the latter, as prize-fights were deemed illegal, handbills and posters for fights would not have been printed but broadsides describing contests were produced in their thousands and fistic prints were popular.
I am also interested in 18th and 19th century pugilistic benefits and exhibitions in circuses, theatres and music halls, for which handbills, tickets or programmes may still be in existence. TONY GEE 8 Berkeley Close Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 2LG. Tel: 01707 651407
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