OT. What is the best book you have ever read?

I can copy & paste too Stu.

Roy shaw was a 5' 8 Middleweight and Lenny mcClean was about 6'4 and 20 stone, I have read many accounts about both men and bottom line they were both awesome bare knuckle fighters, but McClean's claims never to have lost are wrong, he was knocked out by Kevin Paddock and I believe Cliff Fields.

Fact is you wouldn't have wanted to meet either in a bare knucle fight.

 

too true billy ,both men were animals thats for sure,good reading about both men ,the fights will live in the memories forever ,i did research lenny because of the surname connection

 

Wait Until Spring Bandini by John Fante.

 

I took your advice and took 'Catch 22' on holiday, got back yesterday.

I've read lot's and lot's of books of various genres over the years, and Catch 22 has now become my favourite book I've ever read.

Just thought I'd pop on and say thanks

Have some REP

 

Cliff Field did beat Lenny mate. A bloke who lives just up the road from me, Brian "Barney" Jewitt sparred with Cliff Field as a favour leading up to his fight with McClean. Brian told him to take it easy as he was full of cold. Field took no notice and battered Brian to a pulp. A few months later, Field had a fight arranged but his opponent dropped out and Brian stood in as a replacement. He hated Field for what he had done to him and he went in the ring full of hell and battered Cliff Field to a pulp. (Any doubters can google it)

I always have a few pints with him on a Sunday afternoon. He's a top bloke.

 

That's an awesome story mate, would love to meet the bloke.

 

He's told me some great tales Billy. He used to own pubs and nightclubs after the boxing, been shot etc. loads of stories I could put on here but got to be careful what I say! Really interesting bloke. His hands are riddled with arthritis now though.

 

Lenny died of cancer didn't he?
How old is this Brian fella?

 

Best book I've ever read was " A Brief History Of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. Fascinating.

 

Yeah, Lenny McClean died of cancer. Brian is 71, knocking on a bit now, but still got loads of character. Three years ago he drove my youngest daughter and her mate to the collage prom in his roller. Heart of gold he has.

 

I'd bloody love a pint with that lad.

 

Y

Not only is it my favourite but you can read it over and over again and it's still good.

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Brian in a bar in Benidorm, he took me under his wing when he asked why I was on my own ( it was two weeks after my wife had passed ) what a gentle giant this man is, and I can confirm the stories, he told me all the ones mentioned on here.
hope to meet him again.

 

If Carlsberg did posts.

 

If you live round this area, he spends a bit of time in The Hearts of Oak in Peterlee

 

My favourite book of all time is Papillon; the true story of a petty French criminal named Henry Charier, who was wrongly convicted for murder. The book is far better than the film which was based on it. The sequel book was called Banco and detailed his life in South America after he escaped. He eventually returned to France and was given a full pardon

 

It's an amazing book but did you know that there are doubts about whether or not it really is a true story?

 

WOW.. I wouldn't know where to start on this one.. I read a hell of a lot and couldn't pick a favourite..

 

Ricky Tomlinson's autobiography, funny but at the same time a warning to how "the establishment" can affect an individual's life.