Randolph Turpin

[goose 5]

Anyone here read John Plimmer's book about Turpin in which he challenges the suicide narrative ?

[Controversial]

Anyone here read John Plimmer's book about Turpin in which he challenges the suicide narrative ?

No, what does he think happened then, that presumably someone killed him?

[goose 5]

I just found out about this book-the author is a former police detective and writes that the suicide theory is "inconceivable".

[goose 5]

Murder, yes, is his conclusion.

[Caractacus]

Did he have anything to look forward too, the day before he died ?

[Bodyshot3]

I have not read the book, so can't really comment on the findings.

But there's certainly the suggestion that Turpin became increasingly aware of what he had actually earnt and began asking the wrong kind of questions directed at the wrong kind of people about where the bulk of his wealth had gone.

But it has always been intertwinned with his very poor financial-business decisions which might also account for his suicide rather than the mob silencing him.

Randy was in deep trouble with the Tax Man and a notorious free-spender on his mates bad business deals.

I spent a couple of years living around Leamington-Warwick and Turpin and his boxing family were much-loved, their achievements were particularly special because it was not a fighting area. Coventry and Birmingham were.

[Caractacus]

Randy Turpin seems to have died around the same time as Freddie Mills in 1965.( which was also a "questionable" demise)
did either one of any associateion with the Kray Bros. ?

[rob h]

I think I read that his young daughter was also shot?

And it was particularly suspicious as Turpin had two gunshot wounds to the head, with it being written that the first one was more of a graze. I've since read an updated version of events which states that one shot was to the chest and the other to the head.

Turpin is also lauded still in North Wales where he spent quite a bit of time.

[Caractacus]

At Tiger Bay ?

[Controversial]

Randy Turpin seems to have died around the same time as Freddie Mills in 1965.( which was also a "questionable" demise)
did either one of any associateion with the Kray Bros. ?

I saw an interesting documentary on Mills, I think the whole storyline about him has been exaggerated. Some bloke also wrote a book claiming Mills was a serial killer. Mills was displaying signs of odd behaviour, depression and anger after being involved in 101 pro fights and hundreds of booth fights. From what I remember the documentary basically suggested he had brain trauma (CTE) and committed suicide. Miles Templeton was interviewed on the documentary and posts on here so could probably add more.

[Jaguar]

At Tiger Bay ?

Tiger Bay is Cardiff, South Wales.

[Caractacus]

Anyone here ever been to Leamington ?
Is the Transport Cafe still there on Russell Street ?

[Bodyshot3]

Anyone here ever been to Leamington ?
Is the Transport Cafe still there on Russell Street ?

Please bother to read the thread dude

I lived in Leam for two years.

The Cafe was not there but the Turpin family were well-known and liked, although they had an equal attachment to nearby Warwick which today is almost connected with Leam.

[Caractacus]

I meant did anyone else live there, particularly back in the 1960's.
If so, How has the neighbourhood changed since then ?

[nobleart1978]

Randy was asking Mr S for his money from fights that he had not recieved his full share from.

A lot of Turpin's money was held back by his promoter and his manager.

I have always believed that Randy was murdered. He loved his young daughter and would never have hurt her. Anyway, how can you shoot yourself in the heart and then in the head ?

[goose 5]

The head shots were first-one was described as a grazing shot. His wife didn't hear any of the five total shots .His daughter's survival was incredible; she spent less than 3 weeks in the hospital.

[goose 5]

Turpin's biographer-Jack Birtley- claimed to have been threatened if he didn't revise parts of the bio before publication to remove the names of the people who Turpin said stole his money. Birtley did in fact exclude the names before the book came out.

[Bodyshot3]

I'd really like to improve my understanding of Randolph Turpin and would appreciate some help.
There's some purpose as well, because a friend is producing a study of outstanding mixed-race Brits.

It is also a personal thing, because I lived and studied in Leamington Spa where Randy hailed from, and even then it felt that Turpin had slightly slipped under the radar in his old stomping ground of Warwick/Leamington.

I still suspect that Randy committing suicide was a factor in this 'ghosting' and also Leamington was never a boxing city either. So he and his brother Dick were the proverbial fishes out of water.

But even the briefest look at Randy's record shows you that he was an exceptional fighter beyond the sensational win over Sugar Ray Robinson and maybe one of the best British fighters of the modern era.

So a shout-out for the Leamington Licker and I would love some further reading to help this project.

[Expug]

I’m sure you probably know the basics of his story. His victory over Sugar Ray etc. what’s terrible is how things turned out post career. Killed himself and shot his 17 month old daughter. She survived thank God. Evidently doctors he saw, claimed he was punch drunk at that point in his life , along with being broke , getting into pro wrestling to earn a few dollars, and making a brief comeback that went nowhere. I suppose the question is, how much brain damage was a contributing factor to his actions. It’s the big question that’s the elephant in the room. Not just with him but many many other fighters problems. It’s obvious that getting hit in the head countless times is detrimental, but what are the different ways the damage manifests itself. Violence? Possibly.

[goose 5]

Even as a young child, Turpin was very violent towards girls. He was a notorious bully as a teen and abusive to women as an adult. All in all, a very disturbed person.

[Caractacus]

could be a clue somewhere there.

[Caractacus]

Anyone here ever been to Leamington ?
Is the Transport Cafe still there on Russell Street ?

Please bother to read the thread dude

I lived in Leam for two years.

The Cafe was not there but the Turpin family were well-known and liked, although they had an equal attachment to nearby Warwick which today is almost connected with Leam.

yes, I meant someone other then yourself of course
( from a different viewpoint)

[Caractacus]

Turpin's biographer-Jack Birtley- claimed to have been threatened if he didn't revise parts of the bio before publication to remove the names of the people who Turpin said stole his money. Birtley did in fact exclude the names before the book came out.

Gorblimey ! so how old where these geezers who threatend 'im if he did'nt heed the warning ?

[goose 5]

The book was published in 1975-I have not idea of the ages of the people who made the threats.

[bennie]

I met Randy's daughter back in the 1980s. Randy had attempted to kill her because he thought she was another man's child. I couldn't believe it when I saw her. She is the absolute spitting image of her father.