Harry Currie, a much-loved Liverpool boxing coach who dedicated more than 50 years of his life to helping generations of young people, has died aged 93. Currie, from Everton, died on October 27, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the city's amateur boxing community.
A Legacy Beyond Titles and Trophies
During a coaching career spanning more than five decades, Harry helped produce numerous champions, including boxer Colin Dunne, who went on to become a world champion. But for those who knew him, his greatest achievement was never measured by titles or trophies. Instead, Harry is being remembered as a mentor, father figure and friend who gave thousands of young people encouragement, advice and somewhere to turn when they needed it most.
Since his death, tributes have poured in from across Merseyside, with former boxers and members of the community sharing heartfelt memories of the man who made such a difference to their lives.
Remembered as a Mentor and Friend
Chris Edmonds, 67, from Kensington, a coach at Transport ABC, spent about 35 years working alongside Harry and described him as never being interested in recognition or personal reward. He told the ECHO: "He's influenced hundreds and hundreds of people, and never ever once was interested in what's in it for him, or what he was getting out of it. It was always what's best for the kids. That's all he was interested in.
"He was approachable. Nobody was ever afraid or shy about going to say hello to him. Even the kids who were brand new. He'd go and talk to them and put them at ease. There was no side to him, what you saw was what you got with Harry."
Harry's involvement in boxing began long before he joined Transport ABC. Having boxed in the army, he went on to become involved with Salisbury ABC during the 1970s before moving to Everton Red Triangle ABC and eventually Transport ABC, where he spent around 35 years.
A Coach for Every Boxer
Chris, who has been involved in boxing for 42 years, said the pair initially knew each other through their respective clubs before becoming close friends and colleagues. He said: "He was a friend, a mentor. Like so many other kids and men now, he was a father figure. Someone that you went to when you had problems or needed advice, and he always had an answer for you and could always help you out."
Harry was known for his ability to give every boxer the same attention and encouragement, regardless of their experience or success. Chris said: "He was top class. He was number one. He always had answers. He had just as much time and respect for a kid who was just starting out as a champion. He would give as much knowledge to both. He didn't differentiate at all."
Over the decades, thousands of young people passed through the gyms where Harry coached. While some went on to achieve great things in the sport, Chris said Harry never judged a young boxer by their record. He recalled how former boxers would regularly approach Harry at boxing shows, sometimes decades after they had last seen him.
An Integral Part of Amateur Boxing
Harry's influence was felt throughout the wider amateur boxing community, with Chris saying he was rarely able to attend a show without people coming over to greet him. In his later years, Harry would often accompany Chris to boxing events, where former boxers and their families would stop to say hello. Chris said: "Every time I'd take him to a show, everybody would come up and say hello to him. People who'd boxed for him, and then they were coming to see other kids box, they'd see Harry: 'Hi, Harry. Nice to see you again. This is my son'. So, he was an integral part of amateur boxing for the last 50 years in the area."
Harry had also faced a number of health problems in later life, but Chris said they never stopped him from wanting to be involved in the sport. He was diagnosed with dementia towards the end of his life. Away from the gym, Harry leaves behind his wife Charlotte, with whom he shared 71 years of marriage, their five children and a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
As the boxing community comes to terms with his loss, Chris said the number of people getting in touch to pay their respects showed just how much Harry meant to those around him. He said: "Everyone's devastated. We've had hundreds of people getting in touch asking when the funeral is because he's been around that long. We want him to be remembered as a good man and a great coach. As boxing coaches, we miss so many of our own families' events, like birthdays and christenings, so the club and extended boxing community would like to thank the Currie family for sharing Harry with us."
