That John Lennon had a mean left hook
"Gypsy"Johnny Frankham
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yiddo14
- Heavyweight
Re: "Gypsy"Johnny Frankham
Pretty sure there is a picture of all The Beatles standing over Ali in the Ring...
That John Lennon had a mean left hook
That John Lennon had a mean left hook
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mickey1975
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 22990
- Joined: 02 Mar 2009, 12:54
Re: "Gypsy"Johnny Frankham
its was a photo shoot.as was when ali was floored by the beatlesraylawpc wrote:Hey Bennie. Do you know what Frankham is up to these days? I always got a kick reading about him.
As I recall, the knock on Frankham was that he couldn't break an egg. Kind of funny seeing him standing over Ali. As I recall, Ali routinely faked knockdowns when sparring against local celebs.
Re: "Gypsy"Johnny Frankham
i reckon george harrison could beat audley harrison
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Charvil_United
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 28 Sep 2009, 06:04
Re: "Gypsy"Johnny Frankham
Hi All - I was just cruising the web and came across this thread and thought I might add a couple of bits. They will either server to clear up some confusion or muddy the waters some more. I leave that up to you to judge.
While I haven't been able to view the photo as the link is down, I can confirm that there was a photograph of John standing over Ali - and no it wouldn't have been photoshopped because I first saw it sitting on John's parent's television when I was about 14 or 15 years old. That would have been around 1971/72. And, while the years have seriously muddied my brain, I seem to recall that the story was it had been taken at John's training gym in Reading. There was also the story that Ali was planning on promoting John in the US of A.
My information comes from the time when I worked with the Frankhams doing a bit of tarmacing and the like during one (or two?) summer holiday(s). I seem to recall I was paid the princely sum of £4 per day!! While I saw plenty of John, I seem to recall that he only came out with us once. The rest of the time he was training. So my main sources of information was Jim (a very proud father), Janie (an equally proud mother), Randy (the younger brother and my main companion) and Sammy (John's elder brother).
For those of you who would like to pinpoint the year exactly, I seem to recall it was when John got married as I attended the wedding and the shindig afterwards. I also seem to remember it was the same year that Randy (John's younger brother) got married too. If these two didn't happen in the same year then it would mean that my relationship with the Frankhams spanned the two years. I really can't remember. It is all a bit of a blur caused by the early mornings and the lunchtime visits to the pub.... which often rolled into the evening too.
Another couple of incidents that interested historians might be able to use to pinpoint the era are as follows. I believe one of John's fights was cancelled due to John having a cut over his eye. It was reported that Sammy had caused it by throwing a tin can at John. However, the real story I seem to remember, thought I must confess I wasn't present at the time, was that Sammy didn't throw a tin can at all. It was more like a bunch of fives, but news of this sort wouldn't have done John's street cred any good and so it was kept quiet - until now!! And if you doubt the veracity of it, all I can say is that you have never seen or met Sammy. A true mountain of a man weighing in at about 25 stones and dwarfing John in all respects.
Also I remember attending the fight at the Albert Hall when John lost his light heavyweight title to the Finnegan brother he'd previously taken it off. But whether this was before or after my association with the family, I cannot recall.
Regarding the post about John living in a house; that would have been after my time if it is correct. While I was there they all lived in trailers behind, what was then known as ‘the old people's home’. This was a large bungalow that Mr Frankham had reputedly built for his wife. However, the story goes that she couldn't settle and so they sold it but kept the land behind it and built a family centre piece (more of a shiplap shed really) housing the kitchen, scullery and living room. Fond memories of the finest bacon and mushroom sandwich I ever tasted cooked for me by Mrs Frankham. I am salivating as I type. And that was where I saw the photo of John and Ali. And I am reasonable sure it was on the TV. But, it may have been hanging on the wall?
With reference to Bennie's post about John being 'banged up', a few years ago I met a mate of John's who mentioned something about John being a bit naughty. I also seem to recall that Randy was mentioned too.
But all in all I have some very happy memories of my time with the Frankham clan. Riding in the boot of a Ferrari with Randy to the pub in Twyford. Sammy, due to size and seniority had taken the only passenger seat. John and Randy's weddings, the early mornings, the stink of warm Tarmac and the near miss with 'vibration white finger' from having rolled out more than one drive. The bacon and mushroom sandwich (already mentioned) and learning to drive on their patch of land (more likely 10 acres). My first job for them, which was cutting down a field of stinging nettles - seemed more like half of Berkshire at the time – getting stung to buggery. Letting slip that Randy and I have been to the pictures that afternoon watching a grubby movie in the hearing of his fiancé. As I mentioned I went to the wedding so no lasting damage was done to their relationship; just to me when Randy landed a couple of solid punches to my body in retribution - yes the whole family could handle themselves. Laughing at Sammy when he got his fingers caught under the tar sprayer while we were trying to load in onto the lorry. For a big fella Sam could certainly move. Luckily I could move too and was please I did. Mr Frankham using the type of language that parents should never use in front of their wife or children and then laughing like a drain at the look of shock on my face. Gentleman Jim and his lovely wife, a pleasure to have known. Randy throwing half a bottle of Scotch over me and then enjoying my account of the telling off I got from my mother when I got home. Laughs galore.............I hope I haven't bored you with my reminiscing.
I will be interested to read any comments by other members who can put my ramblings in order or give provide some clarity to my distant memories.
Regards
A Refugee from the old Charvil.
While I haven't been able to view the photo as the link is down, I can confirm that there was a photograph of John standing over Ali - and no it wouldn't have been photoshopped because I first saw it sitting on John's parent's television when I was about 14 or 15 years old. That would have been around 1971/72. And, while the years have seriously muddied my brain, I seem to recall that the story was it had been taken at John's training gym in Reading. There was also the story that Ali was planning on promoting John in the US of A.
My information comes from the time when I worked with the Frankhams doing a bit of tarmacing and the like during one (or two?) summer holiday(s). I seem to recall I was paid the princely sum of £4 per day!! While I saw plenty of John, I seem to recall that he only came out with us once. The rest of the time he was training. So my main sources of information was Jim (a very proud father), Janie (an equally proud mother), Randy (the younger brother and my main companion) and Sammy (John's elder brother).
For those of you who would like to pinpoint the year exactly, I seem to recall it was when John got married as I attended the wedding and the shindig afterwards. I also seem to remember it was the same year that Randy (John's younger brother) got married too. If these two didn't happen in the same year then it would mean that my relationship with the Frankhams spanned the two years. I really can't remember. It is all a bit of a blur caused by the early mornings and the lunchtime visits to the pub.... which often rolled into the evening too.
Another couple of incidents that interested historians might be able to use to pinpoint the era are as follows. I believe one of John's fights was cancelled due to John having a cut over his eye. It was reported that Sammy had caused it by throwing a tin can at John. However, the real story I seem to remember, thought I must confess I wasn't present at the time, was that Sammy didn't throw a tin can at all. It was more like a bunch of fives, but news of this sort wouldn't have done John's street cred any good and so it was kept quiet - until now!! And if you doubt the veracity of it, all I can say is that you have never seen or met Sammy. A true mountain of a man weighing in at about 25 stones and dwarfing John in all respects.
Also I remember attending the fight at the Albert Hall when John lost his light heavyweight title to the Finnegan brother he'd previously taken it off. But whether this was before or after my association with the family, I cannot recall.
Regarding the post about John living in a house; that would have been after my time if it is correct. While I was there they all lived in trailers behind, what was then known as ‘the old people's home’. This was a large bungalow that Mr Frankham had reputedly built for his wife. However, the story goes that she couldn't settle and so they sold it but kept the land behind it and built a family centre piece (more of a shiplap shed really) housing the kitchen, scullery and living room. Fond memories of the finest bacon and mushroom sandwich I ever tasted cooked for me by Mrs Frankham. I am salivating as I type. And that was where I saw the photo of John and Ali. And I am reasonable sure it was on the TV. But, it may have been hanging on the wall?
With reference to Bennie's post about John being 'banged up', a few years ago I met a mate of John's who mentioned something about John being a bit naughty. I also seem to recall that Randy was mentioned too.
But all in all I have some very happy memories of my time with the Frankham clan. Riding in the boot of a Ferrari with Randy to the pub in Twyford. Sammy, due to size and seniority had taken the only passenger seat. John and Randy's weddings, the early mornings, the stink of warm Tarmac and the near miss with 'vibration white finger' from having rolled out more than one drive. The bacon and mushroom sandwich (already mentioned) and learning to drive on their patch of land (more likely 10 acres). My first job for them, which was cutting down a field of stinging nettles - seemed more like half of Berkshire at the time – getting stung to buggery. Letting slip that Randy and I have been to the pictures that afternoon watching a grubby movie in the hearing of his fiancé. As I mentioned I went to the wedding so no lasting damage was done to their relationship; just to me when Randy landed a couple of solid punches to my body in retribution - yes the whole family could handle themselves. Laughing at Sammy when he got his fingers caught under the tar sprayer while we were trying to load in onto the lorry. For a big fella Sam could certainly move. Luckily I could move too and was please I did. Mr Frankham using the type of language that parents should never use in front of their wife or children and then laughing like a drain at the look of shock on my face. Gentleman Jim and his lovely wife, a pleasure to have known. Randy throwing half a bottle of Scotch over me and then enjoying my account of the telling off I got from my mother when I got home. Laughs galore.............I hope I haven't bored you with my reminiscing.
I will be interested to read any comments by other members who can put my ramblings in order or give provide some clarity to my distant memories.
Regards
A Refugee from the old Charvil.