Fond Farewell to Lion Club’s Stan Ewens

For the second time in as many months, Hoxton’s Lion ABC has been rocked with the sad news of the passing of another of their veteran boxing stalwarts as, on 12th November, Stan Ewens passed away.

His passing followed the death last month of the club’s former veteran head senior coach, Roy MacDonald.

Ewens, just shy of 90 years of age died after a short illness, this news having shocked the local boxing scene throughout north London and indeed the capital at large.

North Londoner Ewens who lived in New North Road, N1, was associated for so much of his life in boxing with the Lion Club, although he was a frequent and very welcome visitor at both the Islington and Angel amateur boxing clubs

Boxing was his passion for much of his very long life and he counted successful local boxing men Colin Lake (Angel) and Kenny Field (Lion) among his trusted friends.

In a long association largely in a coaching and training role at the Lion Club – although he also turned his hand on many occasions to most other things to help – he will be remembered fondly for over twenty years for heading up the club’s nursery section, which helped the newest recruits enormously.

When Hackney’s Lawrence Okolie came to the Lion Club as a 17-year-old, principally to get fit and lose weight, Stan took him under his wing and along with fellow coaches, Robbie England and Mark Collings, Lawrence went on win a National Novices crown.

Since those early days in Hoxton, Okolie’s boxing exploits have come on in leaps and bounds, including representing Team GB at the Rio Olympics in 2016, and he is currently unbeaten as a professional (14-0) and is about to box for the vacant WBO world cruiserweight crown at London’s O2 next month.

How proud would Stan have been if Lawrence manages to beat Poland’s Krzystof Glowacki for the world crown on 12th December.

Advancing years did not deter Ewens  in the least, and he could be seen often taking the club’s boxers for running on Sundays regardless of the weather and, more recently, he would watch regularly the club’s boxers exercising in a local park during the latter course of this current pandemic.

Stan always had time for everyone. He would often be seen during and after club shows speaking with many young coaches, looking to inspire the next generation.

Lion Club Honorary Secretary Paul Morant told the Islington Gazette: “Stan will be sorely missed by everyone at our Club”, while Lion Club Chairman, Alan Parry added: “ Stan’s death is a great loss to the Lion Club and all who knew him there over many years.”

Former Angel ABC Honorary Secretary, Bill Cross said:  Stan often used to pop into the Angel ABC and we always made him very welcome. He was a very nice man and boxing was always very much in his heart and in his thoughts at all times.”

Islington ABC Competition Secretary, Reggie Hagland, concurred saying: “Stan was truly a lovely man and he always had good relations with our club. He really will be missed by all of us at Islington ABC.”

Stan is survived by his daughter, Lisa and her family.