Les Darcy Day Now More Than A Hat In The Ring

Sun Herald

Sunday March 2, 2008

By Nat Wallace

PLANS to commemorate Maitland boxing legend Les Darcy with a day on the calendar are moving ahead.

A report will go before Maitland Council on March 18 suggesting potential dates for a Les Darcy Day.

The report will also address potential funding arrangements for the restoration of Darcy's grave in East Maitland.

A council spokesman said they had enlisted the help of the NSW Department of Commerce for ideas.

Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore said author Peter FitzSimons, who recently wrote a book on Darcy, had also offered to help with the funding.

"A day named after Les Darcy would be a real day of meaning for Maitland," Mr Blackmore said. "It's exciting that this is moving forward, so we can truly honour a local legend."

Possible dates for Les Darcy Day are his birthday, October 31, or the date of his death, May 24.

Darcy, who was, along with Stockton's Dave Sands, considered the country's greatest boxer, died of blood poisoning in the US in 1917 when pursuing a chance at a world title. It is claimed 700,000 people turned out to watch his funeral in Sydney.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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