Subject(s): Randolph Turpin Sport: Boxing Location: Market Square, Warwick, Warwickshire Unveiled: 10/7/2001 Sculptor: Carl Payne Material: Bronze Status: In Situ Inscription(s): Plaque 1: In honour of Randolph Adolphus Turpin (1928-1966) Middleweight Champion of the World 1951. In Palace, Pub and Parlour, the Whole of Britain Held it's Breath. Celer Et Audax. Chairman Adrian Bush. Sculptor Carl Payne. Statue unveiled by Sir Henry Cooper and Jack Turpin on 10th July 2001. Plaque 2: Randolph's father was from Guyana and invalided to Warwick from the battle fields of the Great War. He married a local girl. Randolph was born in nearby Leamington Spa. The Turpin family moved back to Warwick when Randolph was small. He attended Westgate School and trained in a Warwick gymnasium. After a glittering amateur career, Randolph served with the Royal Navy. His finest hour as a professional boxer came when he dramatically out-fought the legendary American middleweight Sugar Ray Robinson, to become Britain's first black World Champion. In 2001 Randolph Turpin was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the ring. This plaque was donated by Tony Baker of Warwick. Plaque 3: The Boxing Turpin Brothers. Randolph Adolphus ‘Licker’ Turpin. British Middleweight Champion; European Middleweight Champion; World Middleweight Champion; British & Empire Light-Heavyweight Champion; British Empire Middleweight Champion; European Middleweight Champion. Lionel Cecil ‘Dick’ Turpin. Midlands Area Middleweight Champion; British Empire Middleweight Champion; British Middleweight Champion (Dick was the first black man to fight for a sporting British title (boxing) after the colour bar was lifted in 1948. Dick was the No.1 Middleweight contender and won the British title at Aston Villa football ground making history). John Matthew ‘Jack’ Turpin. Midlands Area Featherweight Champion; No.1 Contender for British Title. Celer Et Audax. The statue was donated by the Randolph Turpin memorial fund chairman, Adrian Bush. A special thank you to all below who attended the day and to those who helped. The late Betty Turpin (RTMF Treasurer). Simone Bush (RTMF Secretary). Alan Minter, former Middleweight World Champion. Ernie Shavers, former No.1 World Heavyweight Contender. Richie Woodhall, former Super Middleweight World Champion. Neil Simpson, current British Light Heavyweight Champion. Tony Baker, former GB Powerlifter. Steelcraft.. Chris Donnachie. Tony ‘Banger’ Walsh. Sophie Taylor. Alan R Elkin. Peter J Starley. Warwick District Council. And the people who contributed and supported the fund. 10th July 2001. This plaque was donated by Peter Lower from Leamington Spa . Links: Sculptor Project