Alf Shawyer

Alf Shawyer was the Amateur Boxing Association of England’s middleweight champion in 1933 prior to earning the title of British Empire Amateur Champion in the same event at the 1934 British Empire Games. He travelled to the United States in 1935 to compete in the international version of the Golden Gloves tournament and successfully captured another title in the middleweight division. He was sent to the 1936 Summer Olympics to compete in the light-heavyweight division, but did not participate in the actual tournament. Outside of boxing, Shawyer was a proud and distinguished member of the London Fire Brigade, having joined the service in 1928. Upon returning from New York he was soon promoted to an officer rank at which he received his first commendation for bravery in October 1939.

With the onset of World War II, his athletic career came to an end and he spent all of his energies fighting fires during the bombing raids of the London Blitz. He continued in this profession until his retirement in December 1966, by which point he had attained the rank of Assistant Chief Officer. Among his many awards and accolades were the United Kingdom’s World War II Defence Medal, the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal in 1952, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953, and an MBE in 1958.