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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Jack Petersen, boxer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews - with the help of rugby union player Cliff Morgan and sports commentator Brian Johnston - at the Memorial Hall in Barry, south Wales, from where the programme was then broadcast. Jack had been led to believe he was there to present trophies to the winners of a boxing tournament.

Jack, who took up amateur boxing at the gym run by his father, had won the Welsh ABA light-heavyweight and heavyweight titles and the British ABA light-heavyweight title by the time he was 19. He turned professional in September 1931 and won the Welsh heavyweight title the following March.

Before the age of 21, he had become light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion of Britain - the first Welshman to hold the British heavyweight boxing title. He retired on medical advice at the age of 25 due to the threat of potential blindness, having won 33 of his 38 professional fights in his relatively short five-and-a-half-year career. He later worked with the Army Cadet Force, served as a Cardiff City councillor and ran a successful sports shop.

programme details...

• Edition No: 46
• Subject No: 46
• Broadcast live: Mon 16 Dec 1957
• Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
• Venue: Memorial Hall, Barry
• Series: 3
• Edition: 12

on the guest list...

• Charles Petersen - uncle
• Doreen Booker - sister
• George Dymond
• Rhys Howells
• Moss Deyong
• Archie Campbell
• Alfred Philp
• Clifford Laverick
• Len Harvey
• Ronald Booker - brother-in-law
• Betty - wife
• Barbara - daughter
• David - son
• Robert - son
• Michael - son - via telephone
• John - son - via telephone
• Walter Neusel
Filmed tribute:
• Jack Dempsey

production team...

• Researchers: Nigel Ward, Ronald Vivian
• Writer: Ken Smith
• Director: unknown
• Producer: T Leslie Jackson

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

• with thanks to the family of Jack Petersen for their contribution to this page

Life In The Ring

from flyweight to heavyweight

Timeline

the show's fifty year history

This Is Your Life by Eamonn Andrews

Weekend Magazine reports from behind-the-scenes

Forecast...

Eamonn Andrews previews the programme's relaunch

Photographs of Jack Petersen This Is Your Life

Family members of Jack Petersen recall this edition of This Is Your Life in this exclusive contribution to the BigRedBook website...

Eldest son John recalls, "My brothers David and Rob and my sister Elizabeth all appeared in the show whilst Michael and I were only involved by telephone because we were both serving in the army at that time, Michael in Berlin where the Berlin wall was very much in evidence, whilst I was in Cyprus fighting the EOKA terrorists. The BBC wanted to fly us home, but apparently, the War Office would not agree, sadly."

The Army PR people used a photograph of Michael (left) in uniform speaking to his father to get some local coverage.

Although not at the actual recording, John remembers the many well-known sportsmen who took part in his father's tribute – "Cliff Morgan, Bleddyn Williams, Rex Willis, all Welsh rugby internationals, Alf Sherwood, Welsh football international, Dai Dower and Joe Erskine – both "discovered" by Dad when he was in the army in charge of cadets in South Wales. And, of course, Len Harvey and Walter Neusel, and a filmed message from Jack Dempsey, who wanted to manage Dad and bring him across to the USA to fight for the world light heavyweight championship and then the heavyweight championship."

Jack's daughter Barbara, known by her second name, Elizabeth, explains the covert operation deployed to ensure her father was in the right place at the right time for Eamonn to surprise him on live television:

"I was working at Brightlands, a prep school in Newnham, Gloucester, at the time of the show. I had to bring David and Robert to Cardiff without Dad knowing. Mum met us and kept the boys with her all day while I went to Dinas Powis to see Dad as a surprise visit. Dad said Mum would be thrilled to see me and had gone shopping into town but should be back at tea time. Mum phoned to say she had met up with a friend and would be home later in the evening. Dad told me he had been invited to present some trophies to some boxers at Barry Memorial Hall, so I could go with him, and a car was coming to collect him.  There was a ring set up and a fight going on when we arrived. He had no idea of what was about to happen. He was asked into the ring, and... Eamonn Andrews appeared. I remember Dad looking very cross, but Mum was brought out, and he was fine then."

As Elizabeth has mentioned, the programme was broadcast live from the Memorial Hall in Barry, only the third time This Is Your Life had been transmitted outside London - the programme's usual base. Jack Petersen was surprised in the boxing ring during a prize-giving presentation.

Jack's youngest son Rob vividly remembers the day: "I was 9 years old and away at Brightlands, where all my brothers had been before me. My sister Elizabeth was also there as a deputy matron, if I recall. Anyway, on the day of the event, I was put on the train by my sister, who would not tell me why I was going home. I thought that I must have done something terrible to be sent home!! We arrived in Cardiff and, from memory, went by car to the Memorial Hall in Barry."

Rob continues, "Still in the dark, I was taken into a room at the back of the hall where I remember meeting a number of 'giants', in fact, ex-boxers, as I found out, including Walter Neusal and Len Harvey. Later I was told to follow a young woman to a screen where I was told to run across to my father, who would be there with my mother, sister and elder brother David. The screen opened, and I ran across what had been a boxing ring to my father after Eamonn Andrews had introduced me!"

"We then heard dad speaking to brothers Michael and John, who were in Germany and Cyprus. After the event, I remember being taken to a small room where I was given some payment for my attendance. I cannot recall much more of the day, but it was definitely a relief not to be told I had been expelled from school!"

Cardiff City Council recently erected a "blue plaque" on the building in which Jack Petersen did all his training to commemorate his life. The Lord Mayor unveiled it on September 2nd 2011 - the centenary of Jack's birth (pictured below).

A photograph of Jack Petersen's family at the unveiling of a blue plaque erected by Cardiff City Council on September 2nd 2011 - the centenary of Jack's birth - on the building where he trained.

Bob Lonkhurst recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Gentleman Of The Ring...

In December 1957, the BBC featured Jack in the television series This Is Your Life. Presented by Eamonn Andrews, there were telephone link-ups with his sons John in Cyprus and Michael in Berlin.

Both were on active service with the British Army but had been unable to get leave to attend their father's special night. Jack's other children, Barbara, David and Robert accompanied him and Betty at the studio.

Guests included old opponents Rhys Howells, who beat Jack as an amateur in 1929 and became a firm friend, and Len Harvey whom he fought three times for the British heavyweight title. Len had also remained a close friend, and was delighted when asked to be a guest on the programme. Incredibly, just as he was about to leave his home in London, Walter Neusel knocked on his door.

'Why didn't you call me to say you were coming?' said Len. 'I'm just off to Cardiff where the BBC are doing a special programme for Petersen.'

'Can I come along as well?' asked Neusel. Len thought it was a great idea because he knew Jack had tremendous respect for the German, and would be delighted to see him. They travelled to Cardiff together and when they arrived at the studio the BBC producer was very excited and invited Walter to be a guest. Jack was visibly emotional when Neusel was introduced, and despite their three vicious battles 30 years earlier, there was genuine warmth between them.

Gilbert Odd recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Len Harvey, Prince of Boxers...

Jack Petersen had lost the British and Empire heavyweight titles to Ben Foord, the South African, who had in turn been beaten by Tommy Farr, who subsequently knocked out Neusel and was all set to go to New York and meet Joe Louis for the world championship. Defeat caused Petersen to announce his retirement and Len was genuinely sorry at the Welshman's departure from active Boxing.

'He was a splendid sportsman, both in and out of the ring,' Harvey said in an interview. 'He always pleased the public with his plucky fighting and I am sad to think that the eye trouble that has caused his retirement was started in his first fight with me.'

Every so often they met at public functions and were the closest of friends. And when, in later years, Petersen was featured in a This Is Your Life programme, Len was only too happy to take part. Just as he was setting out from home, Neusel called by chance to see him. 'You're just in time, Walter' said Len. 'Jump in and I'll take you to Cardiff. They are doing a special television programme on Petersen this evening and they'll be glad to have you in it.'

As Petersen and Neusel had met three times in stirring contests, the inclusion of the German greatly enhanced the show and the producers were very appreciative of Harvey's gesture.