Fight nights at Rochester Casino in the early 1930s...

By Bill Pullum

The mists of time spread a haze in the old memory department but I will tell of the things that I do recall and the events that brought me, in a roundabout way, to the Rochester Casino.

Turning pro in 1930 and barely reaching the flyweight limit, I was taken to the Blackfriars Ring by Matt Wells who thought I had high potentiality and wanted to manage me. I remember being appraised and questioned by Dan Sullivan the general-manager and matchmaker at The Ring who, in my youthful eyes, was a formidable gentleman who had a game leg and leaned on a stick. Matt, carried away by his enthusiasm, wanted me matched with Young Dusty of Newcastle over ten by two minute rounds. Turning to me, Sullivan said: "Lad, you're doing the fighting. What do you feel about it?" I replied, "Mr Sullivan, I would like to start right at the bottom and learn all about the game." "He's got more sense than you, Matt," said Sullivan and straightaway booked me for a six-rounder. Dear old Matt was very miffed with me but that experienced and tough Northern boy would have murdered me in my debut bout.

I did quite well in those early minor bouts but I was continually matched with heavier opponents. I was light in the legs but big in the chest and shoulders, so I looked heavier than I was. In those days, weight hardly seemed to matter for supporting bouts. The main concern of the matchmaker was if the opponents looked about the same size and if they would make a good fight. I was continually outweighed by my opposite numbers. This annoyed my father, W. A. Pullum. "If you can't get fair weight contests," he said, "I will have to promote some shows of my own to see that you do!" To say was to do. A most determined man was my father. He fought tuberculosis as a youth and beat it. He went on to become, as an adult, undefeated world champion in his chosen sport of weightlifting.

At that time, Rochester Casino was advertised as being available for boxing and my father called the man in charge, a Mr Forsythe. After negotiating terms, Dad hired the hall for weekly shows and "Pullum Promotions" was born.

I boxed at the Casino but willy nilly became more involved with the promotional side of the business. Late every Monday afternoon we would leave in my father's car with a London contingent of boxers and speed to Rochester to meet the local fighters. Over the season, I think my father broke even. He put on some really good shows but the magic of having big names, which brings bumper attendances, was usually absent.

Continue reading:

http://blog.boxinghistory.org.uk/2011/12/nights-at-rochester-casino.html

Great read as always, Alex.

What Superfly says goes for me too Alex, cracking read and a cracking webiste, keeep em coming.

fantastic stuff

Thanks for sharing Alex, required reading as ever mate!

Side note- Never knew this place was used for boxing is the past! It's now a total Poopie whole of a nightclub filled with Chavs.

Great article however.

Glad the piece is of interest. Bill Pullum wrote a number of fascinating articles about his time in the fight game. Hope to republish some more in the near future.

All Time Great - had no idea the building was still around! What's the address in Rochester?

Bit of a shame that it's become a chav nightclub, though it was probably 'rough and ready' back in the '20s and '30s.

Hi Alex. It's looks exactly the same as it does in your article! Address: 1 Blue Boar Lane, Town Centre, Rochester owned by a person called Mr Stones, and is still called the "Casino Rooms".

Rochester has a lot of history (Charles Dickens etc) but I never knew of the Casino Rooms past.

Found it:

http://www.citikey.co.uk/display/aaron-p-stones-casino-rooms-DK43Q

It's nice to see that, whatever it's like inside, the exterior looks the same as in its boxing days.

All that history attached to the place. Hope it stays open in one form or another.

Cheers ATG - saw your post just after I'd posted.

I might head over there next time I'm in Kent and take a few photos.

This series of articles from alex and his colleagues has been a source of delight for me.

As most will know, I am a history enthusiast who is always eager to learn more, and my knowledge of British boxing history, particularly at grass roots level, has been bolstered immeasurably by these fine and fascinating contributions.

Long may they continue.

Yet again, alex, a huge ' thank you ' to you for sharing this with us.

Thanks Alex.

I never fail to be amazed at how business was conducted back then, it truly is incredible, and some of these guys were hard as nails, weren't they? Bravery beyond measure, often in the face of adversity. I'd love to be able to travel back in time and attend one or two of these, I think it'd be fantastic.

All Time Great wrote:Hi Alex. It's looks exactly the same as it does in your article! Address: 1 Blue Boar Lane, Town Centre, Rochester owned by a person called Mr Stones, and is still called the "Casino Rooms".

Rochester has a lot of history (Charles Dickens etc) but I never knew of the Casino Rooms past.

Been there many a time, glad to see the tradition of fighting there dates back way before the chavs!

Seriously though the place is a dump now, full of Rochester's' most delightful people!

Fists of Fury wrote:I'd love to be able to travel back in time and attend one or two of these, I think it'd be fantastic.

Seconded!

HumanWindmill wrote:This series of articles from alex and his colleagues has been a source of delight for me.

As most will know, I am a history enthusiast who is always eager to learn more, and my knowledge of British boxing history, particularly at grass roots level, has been bolstered immeasurably by these fine and fascinating contributions.

Long may they continue.

Yet again, alex, a huge ' thank you ' to you for sharing this with us.

Thanks, HW. Though I can't take credit for this article.

I'm just grateful to men such as Bill Pullum, Derek O'Dell, Fred Snelling, Bob Hartley, Gilbert Allnutt and various others for taking the trouble to write these things down.

I'm too young to have known Bill Pullum, but I bet he'd have been delighted to know his writing would find a new audience and still be enjoyed all these years on.