Rochdale boxing legend Terry Hernon celebrates 80th birthday

Date published: 17 June 2020

Rochdale boxing legend and founder of Hamer Amateur Boxing Club Terry Hernon celebrated his 80th birthday on Tuesday (16 June).

Terry, who trained Rochdale’s only Olympic boxer, Kevin Taylor, celebrated the day at home surrounded by family, including his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Speaking about the milestone, he said he had enjoyed the day.

He added: “It feels good; especially knowing I can do anything I want to do because I’ve kept fit and busy.”

One of 10 children, Terry was born in Rochdale in 1940 and went on to win 22 British National Championship titles for boxing. He began boxing with Hamer Youth when he was 12, carrying on during his National Service and time in the RAF.

He trained Hamer coach Steven Connellan; four-times national champ Darren Connellan; five-times national champ Tony Connellan; ABA national featherweight champ and Olympic boxer 1984, British featherweight title contender Kevin Taylor; and British super-welterweight contender, European and British middleweight contender and Central Area Middleweight Champion Derek Wormald amongst many, many others.

Speaking about Terry, Hamer coach Steven Connellan said: “Everything I have learnt both as a boxer and a coach is down to Terry Hernon. He has changed a lot of lives for the better over the years.”

Terry reopened the boxing club at Broadfield School in the centre of Rochdale, later changing its name to Middleton and Rochdale ABC. Passionate about turning people’s lives around, Terry also included courses with wayward children to give them a purpose.

The boxing club was re-formed back to its original name back in 1990 by Kevin Taylor and Steven and Paddy Connellan, who opened up the new gym at the top of John Street in Rochdale next to a professional boxing gym. Since then, Hamer ABC has gone from strength to strength and now has over 600 active participants at any of its training sessions each month, including up to 12 carded amateur boxers.

Terry also co-founded the Littleborough Amateur Boxing Club and wrote a book in 2003, ‘Lythgoe’ about a young boxer and the challenges he overcomes to make it to the top.

Terry met his wife, Glenys, 75, in Rochdale’s Carlton nightclub, before marrying on 4 February 1965. They had two daughters, Diane, who was born in 1964, and Mary Louise, who was born in 1966, and a number of grandchildren.

He moved to Australia in 1972 with his family for four years, before returning to the UK, where he went to live in Middleton and Wales until settling back in Rochdale.