Percy Vear
Encyclopedia
Percy Vear born Herman Vear in Crossflatts
, Bingley
, England. He was a British Professional Boxer during the 1920s and 1930s.
Brought up in Crossflatts during the first World War, Vear lived in Keighley
all his adult life.
Boxers are among the most colourful athletes in all of sports, with names like "Hitman", "Bomber" and "Gentleman Jim", so it should come as no surprise that Vear was known as "Percy Vear". It is not known how or who gave Vear his fight name, but in this case it seems likely that "Percy Vear" is a play on the word to "Persevere" (Per·se·vere), which means,
1. to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.
2. to persist in speech, interrogation, argument, etc.; insist.
–verb (used with object)
3. to bolster, sustain, or uphold: unflagging faith that had persevered him.
Boxing first as a flyweight
, then bantamweight
and later as a featherweight
the demand of the boxing boom proved so hectic that going on for 30 fights a year were common (more that a lot of boxers today have in a lifetime).
Vear had 131 bouts (many as a substitute) during his professional career, spanning from February 1929 to November 1934.
on Monday 11 February 1929.
His second and third professional fights were against Silsden
fighter Maurice Emmott, both of which ended in respectful draws for both boxers. The Local newspaper, The Keighley News
reported "Vear took a lot of punishment in the first two rounds, and had his opponent not been more accurate with his blows Vear would most certainly have been knocked out. As it was, Emmott's methods were very crude, but he did the greater part of attacking. As the fight progressed Vear showed improvement, and the decision of a draw was well received".
His bout with Barrett in Workington
was hailed by the local press as the best fight ever seen in the area.
The Big Fight: Vear -v- Irving
Two professional boxers from the same stable (run by Mr Sam Scaife) were both making names for themselves, Percy Vear and Freddie Irving.
In just three weeks during 1932 they both took on a formidable opponent called Young Tucker of Nelson. 17-year-old Irving forced him to a draw at Colne, while Vear brought off a points win in Keighley Drill Hall. These creditable performances by these two stable mates aroused the interest of the boxing public, and this inevitably led to a money-match being staged in the Drill Hall on 11 April 1932.
It was reported at the time "The contest was one of ten 2 minute rounds at 9st, under forfeit. There were side-stakes of £25, plus a substantial purse offered by the promoter".
The match was one of the biggest local attractions Keighley fight fans had even seen for many years. They responded well and there was a capacity crowd of 1,400. The cost per ticket was 2s. 4d. for reserved seats and 1s. 2d. for the remainder. Mr Harry Jennings of Bradford refereed the match and held the purse. The local newspaper, The Keighley News, which gave considerable space to boxing, reported, "that it was not until the final two rounds that Vear really came into contention".
Vear had obviously been saving himself, but by the time he had reached the point of wearing down Irving's defence it was too late. Irving took the match and the purse on a point’s verdict and it was a fitting climax to the 1931–32-fight season.
He offered his services as fitness and exercise coach to the team. He helped structure the training and exercises on training nights and assisted in giving the embrocation muscle rubs before a game and at half-time.
The club played in the Old Yorkshire League for two seasons between 1946–47 and 1947–48 before folding.
The club was subsequently reformed in 1981 by ex-Wales and Bradford City
Footballer Trevor Hockey
.
Vears wife died in 1968 from cancer, and years later Vear remarried. He lived with his second wife Florence May (insert maiden name) at Bloomfield Road, Keighley. Vear took ill in his late 60's and spent the last year of his life being cared for at Holmewood Residential Home, Fell Lane, Keighley.
On 12 July 2007, some 96 years to the day of Vear's birth, his great grandson, from his youngest son Leslie's line of descendants was born. He is aptly named Jenson Percy Leslie Vear.
In 2009, Christopher Dunn (illustrator) staged an exhibition of his watercolours entitled "Bingley Secrets". One of his pieces was of boxer Vear sitting on top of Damart
UK Head Quarters factory chimney overlooking Bingley.
Crossflatts
Crossflatts is a ribbon development in Airedale along the old route of the A650 road between Bingley and Keighley, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The building of the Aire Valley Trunk road in recent decades has diverted traffic away from the village.It is served...
, Bingley
Bingley
Bingley is a market town in the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford, in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal...
, England. He was a British Professional Boxer during the 1920s and 1930s.
Brought up in Crossflatts during the first World War, Vear lived in Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
all his adult life.
Boxers are among the most colourful athletes in all of sports, with names like "Hitman", "Bomber" and "Gentleman Jim", so it should come as no surprise that Vear was known as "Percy Vear". It is not known how or who gave Vear his fight name, but in this case it seems likely that "Percy Vear" is a play on the word to "Persevere" (Per·se·vere), which means,
1. to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.
2. to persist in speech, interrogation, argument, etc.; insist.
–verb (used with object)
3. to bolster, sustain, or uphold: unflagging faith that had persevered him.
Boxing career
Vear was one of the most colourful characters in Keighley's professional boxing scene in the 1920s and 1930s. Vear was one of three fighters under the Management of Keighley boxing promoter Sam Scaife during those boxing boom years, who also managed locally based fighters Freddie Irving and Johnny Barrett. Perhaps overshadowed by the other two locally, Vear proved to be a bill topper in his own right in many boxing halls up and down the country.Boxing first as a flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
, then bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
and later as a featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
the demand of the boxing boom proved so hectic that going on for 30 fights a year were common (more that a lot of boxers today have in a lifetime).
Vear had 131 bouts (many as a substitute) during his professional career, spanning from February 1929 to November 1934.
Professional debut
His first professional fight aged 17 saw flyweight Vear lose a six round contest on points to (Bradford born) Young Broadley at a packed Drill Hall, KeighleyKeighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
on Monday 11 February 1929.
His second and third professional fights were against Silsden
Silsden
Silsden is a town and civil parish situated in West Yorkshire, England. It lies on the northern slope of the Aire Valley between Keighley and Skipton. It is about from the river. Along the lower edge of the town is the Leeds and Liverpool Canal...
fighter Maurice Emmott, both of which ended in respectful draws for both boxers. The Local newspaper, The Keighley News
Keighley News
The Keighley News is a weekly newspaper based in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England. As well as Keighley, its circulation area includes Cross Hills, Cullingworth, Denholme, East Morton, Haworth, Oxenhope, Silsden and Steeton....
reported "Vear took a lot of punishment in the first two rounds, and had his opponent not been more accurate with his blows Vear would most certainly have been knocked out. As it was, Emmott's methods were very crude, but he did the greater part of attacking. As the fight progressed Vear showed improvement, and the decision of a draw was well received".
His bout with Barrett in Workington
Workington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
was hailed by the local press as the best fight ever seen in the area.
The Big Fight: Vear -v- Irving
Two professional boxers from the same stable (run by Mr Sam Scaife) were both making names for themselves, Percy Vear and Freddie Irving.
In just three weeks during 1932 they both took on a formidable opponent called Young Tucker of Nelson. 17-year-old Irving forced him to a draw at Colne, while Vear brought off a points win in Keighley Drill Hall. These creditable performances by these two stable mates aroused the interest of the boxing public, and this inevitably led to a money-match being staged in the Drill Hall on 11 April 1932.
It was reported at the time "The contest was one of ten 2 minute rounds at 9st, under forfeit. There were side-stakes of £25, plus a substantial purse offered by the promoter".
The match was one of the biggest local attractions Keighley fight fans had even seen for many years. They responded well and there was a capacity crowd of 1,400. The cost per ticket was 2s. 4d. for reserved seats and 1s. 2d. for the remainder. Mr Harry Jennings of Bradford refereed the match and held the purse. The local newspaper, The Keighley News, which gave considerable space to boxing, reported, "that it was not until the final two rounds that Vear really came into contention".
Vear had obviously been saving himself, but by the time he had reached the point of wearing down Irving's defence it was too late. Irving took the match and the purse on a point’s verdict and it was a fitting climax to the 1931–32-fight season.
Other sporting activities outside boxing
Following his boxing career, Vear was involved with his local association football club, Keighley Town.He offered his services as fitness and exercise coach to the team. He helped structure the training and exercises on training nights and assisted in giving the embrocation muscle rubs before a game and at half-time.
The club played in the Old Yorkshire League for two seasons between 1946–47 and 1947–48 before folding.
The club was subsequently reformed in 1981 by ex-Wales and Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
Footballer Trevor Hockey
Trevor Hockey
Trevor Hockey was a professional footballer. His professional career spanned 16 years, seven clubs and almost 600 appearances, plus nine international caps for Wales.-Playing career:...
.
Personal life
Vear was married to Doreen and they had three children, 2 sons, Terrance & Leslie & a daughter, Yvonne. Vear worked as a Shot Blaster for a local firm in Keighley "The Rustless Iron Company Ltd" now known under the acronym Trico Vitreous Enamel, and re-located to the nearby town of Bingley. He worked their until his retirement in the mid 1970s. The sole activity of the company was the vitreous enamelling of metal products and components with the ability to enamel anything from a bath to a cap badge. On 3 January 1974, Vear was presented by "The Rustless Iron Company Ltd" with an analogue "Gold Watch" for 25 years loyal service to the company.Vears wife died in 1968 from cancer, and years later Vear remarried. He lived with his second wife Florence May (insert maiden name) at Bloomfield Road, Keighley. Vear took ill in his late 60's and spent the last year of his life being cared for at Holmewood Residential Home, Fell Lane, Keighley.
On 12 July 2007, some 96 years to the day of Vear's birth, his great grandson, from his youngest son Leslie's line of descendants was born. He is aptly named Jenson Percy Leslie Vear.
In 2009, Christopher Dunn (illustrator) staged an exhibition of his watercolours entitled "Bingley Secrets". One of his pieces was of boxer Vear sitting on top of Damart
Damart
Damart is a French company which specialises in clothing. Established in 1953 the brand became a household name in France and the UK. Although the brand specialises in a material called Thermolactyl, known for its insulation qualities, the label has expanded to include fashion items for the...
UK Head Quarters factory chimney overlooking Bingley.
Source
- http://www.britishboxing.net/boxers_15178-Percy-Vear.html
- http://www.prewarboxing.co.uk/boxer%20lists/V%20list.htm
- http://www.prewarboxing.co.uk/records/danny%20wakelam.htm
- http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=318137&cat=boxer
- http://archive.thisisbradford.co.uk/2001/12/14/132340.html
- http://archive.cravenherald.co.uk/2001/12/14/132340.html