John H Stracey presented with MBE by Prince William

Former World Boxing Council Welterweight Champion and All Time Great John H Stracey, has had the Member of the British Empire Medal pinned to his lapel by Prince William, at Buckingham Palace.

So apt for a boxer who won a battle of wills, to become the first Champion in the Presidency Era of Don Jose Sulaiman, on December 6^th 1975, just one day after Don Jose`s unanimous Election as President of the World Boxing Council in Tunis, because John H was presented with this prestigious accolade by “Wills” who has just been officially appointed The Prince of Wales.

John H`s MBE came in the final Birthday Honors of Queen Elizabeth The Second, in Her Platinum Jubilee Year, and was presented by her oldest Grandson Prince William, the future King.

During his glittering boxing career, John H won the National ABA School Title, the Junior ABA title, the NABC Championship, the ABA Senior title and represented Great Britain at the 1968 Olympics, at the tender age of eighteen and three weeks, being the youngest English boxing Olympian.

As a professional boxer, he won the British, European and World Welterweight title. Knocked down in round one in the Plaza de Toros, Mexico City by Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles, John H got up, regrouped and won the WBC title by TKO in round six. The greatest overseas performance by a British boxer.

John H, alongside Wife Kathy Jane, has worked tirelessly raising funds for charities including, Mind, Cerebral Palsy, Pathfinders, the NSPCC plus Stick “N” Step. A very major one close to their hearts, is Ringside Rest and Care, which is a project to build a twenty bedroomed home for retired ex boxers. John H who had a fine voice, also sings at Retirement Homes for the elderly.

In the run up to the MBE Presentation, John H and Kathy stayed at the Rubens at the Palace Hotel, 39 Buckingham Palace Road. The Manageress was delighted they had chosen the hotel and to celebrate their upcoming success, she upgraded them to the Mary Queen of Scots Suite, presented them with a vintage bottle of champagne and wrote them a special letter of congratulations.

John H and Kathy Jane were allowed to take two special guests to Buckingham Palace. They chose his school friend Dougie Shepherd and her brother Craig Newnes.  They are in the photo alongside Kathy and John H.

John H said: “There is one particular room you wait in and there are paintings of Rubens, Picasso and Rembrandt. It is the most amazing place and there`s nothing quite like it anywhere in the World.”

During the Ceremony John H told Prince William that his Grandfather The Duke of Edinburgh accompanied the GB Olympic Team at the 1968 Mexico Olympics as their Official Ambassador. John notes that William is very tall, around six feet three inches tall, and charming to talk to, kind, attentive, natural and friendly. Then, the official photo session. John H and Kathy are looking forward to seeing the results during the next few days.

John H who is the Pride of Bethnal Green and the East End of London first went to Buckingham Palace with Team GB following the Olympics. Then he, his Mum Betty and Kathy Jane went for the Queen`s fortieth Anniversary. This third time has been an absolute charm!

He said: “To be in the last Queen`s Honors List was a dream come true, because although it would have be nice any other time, this moment of history is so very special. I`ve been very fond of the Royal Family since I was a young lad. All of our family loved the Queen and are Royalists. My Dad always took us to see Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London and all the places the Royals would be around. My Dad always said, be proud of the Royal Family. They do a brilliant job. We have something unique.”

This is also a sad time for the Family, because Kathy`s Mum Barbara Newnes passed away aged eighty two on February 3^rd. Her funeral is on Wednesday.