Jim was the first fighter to win the belt outright, his reward for three title match victories at the same weight.
This belt is the oldest survivor of the original 22 belts issued by the National Sporting Club between 1909-1935 under the patronage of Lord Lonsdale. Each link is stamped 18 ct gold with the centre piece in french porcelain, showing two boxers shaping up to each other.
With the advent of the British boxing board of control in 1919, the NSC Challenge belt took on the different face. Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belts, as they became known, were introduced in 1936. Jim Driscoll's belt was the third issued, but the two older belts dated from 1909 were also held by Welshmen.
On the left as you face the belt it is written: "Feb 14th 1910 Seaman Hayes 6 rounds. 800 pounds". On the right: "April 18th 1910 KO Spike Robson 15 rounds 1000 pounds". Over thirty years ago this belt was valued at over 30,000 pounds sterling. It is still housed in its original leather briefcase with metal buckles, in the proud ownership of Kitty Flynn and her husband Mike. Kitty nee Burns is the granddaughter of Tom Ockur Burns. Jim Driscoll was Kitty's father's cousin.
Below, the
pride of place of our website, this photo of me holding the oldest surviving
Lonsdale belt, while on our recent visit to Cardiff. A pint of Guinness in the
Oak and time spent at Jim's grave, then onto his statue in the city centre, all
achieved with the help of our Cardiff genealogy researcher Jennie
Newman.
