A veteran volunteer and Cheshire West and Chester councillor from Winsford had to fight for words when he was surprised by Joe Calzaghe for the hit ITV show Surprise Surprise .
Tommy Blackmore, 66, was nominated by his son for his incredible dedication to running Winsford Amateur Boxing Club in his spare time for the past 43 years.
As well as juggling his coaching commitments, Tommy has represented the Over and Verdin ward on the borough council since 2011 and has been a Winsford town councillor since 2007.
A camera crew from ITV filmed Tommy at the club pretending they were interested in how he got people involved.
His surprise was to train boxing great Joe Calzaghe.
“It was just amazing as he was an undefeated champion and he was there along with me training.
“It left me speechless and I didn’t know what to do when he said surprise surprise,” Tommy said.
Tommy and son Michael, 31, who has followed in his dad’s footsteps and become a boxing coach, went down to London four weeks ago to be interviewed by Holly Willoughby, who Tommy described as ‘very nice’.
“It meant a tremendous lot to me to feel that my son and others appreciate what I do at the boxing club. I feel it is very important to be active members of the community where you live,” he said.
Tommy moved to Winsford as part of the overspill from Liverpool in 1968 and set up the boxing club two years later.
He said boxing appeals to him because it makes everyone equal:
“It brings everyone down to the same level, boys and girls. It does not matter what background you come from.”
The episode featuring Tommy will air this Sunday, November 10.
