Girls and boxing? No way!
No question about it: things were different when the Olympic Games were held in London in 1948.
When Tommy Proffitt was preparing to box in those Games, his sisters made him a pair of shorts out of an old blackout curtain.
Now, as boxers all over the world prepare to compete in the 2012 London Olympics, Proffitt and his 1948 teammate Ron Cooper have a few fascinating tales to tell, and opinions to express.
The still sprightly octogenarians never dreamt that one day women might fight for medals at a London Olympics as they will for the first time next year.
"No, definitely not," said Proffitt, still wearing his 1948 Games blazer.
"Never," agreed Cooper, wrapped up warm against the cold of a grey afternoon in East London where five British boxers who have qualified for the 2012 Games are introduced to the news media.
"I don't believe in it. Kaput. Finished. I've been to boxing shows in West Ham and Dagenham and we go to
present the prizes.
“Girls and boxing? I said no way. No way. It doesn't make sense to me," said the retired ship repairer and docker.
"But I can't tell them not to do it. If they want to do it, they do it."
Cooper, the "Unbeaten Sailor" may have hit the deck a few times but proudly boasts he was never knocked out.
He recognises that times have changed since he fought as a lightweight; when weights were announced in pounds and ounces.
AUSTERITY OLYMPICS
When they competed in the “Austerity Olympics,” the Games were held against a backdrop of food rationing. London was still ravaged by wartime bombing raids.
The boxing was held at Wembley, across the city from Cooper's native East End, and facilities were basic.
The ring was erected on steel girders over the Empire Pool after the renovated facility had hosted a week of swimming and diving. Water was still visible through gaps in the boards.
“Make do and mend” was the refrain, one that Cooper and his generation have held on to.
"We were on rations for coats, so we had to get clothes coupons to have them made. We supplied our own shorts; we had white trousers," recalled Cooper, who turned professional after the Games.
"I used them (the trousers) as an instructor. I was an instructor for 35 years and I wore them out. I've still got the jacket for my two sons if they want it; if they want to sell it when I'm brown bread (dead). And I've still got my tie and the actual vest I boxed in."
CORNED BEEF; CUSTARD AND JELLY
The trays of food laid on for the 2012 hopefuls, well fed and funded, also revived memories of the training regime in Uxbridge and Wargrave to the west of London.
"We never had any special food," said Cooper, speaking for Proffitt while the Manchester-based former bantamweight contemplated the filled bap (bread roll) in his hand.
"I spoke to some runners and they said they had some special food. I said where did you get that from then? Was it bent? We never had none.
"Do you remember having a bit of meat, Tom? Corned beef. I had custard and jelly for afters. I loved it."
Even taking part in those strictly amateur Games was a hardship for some of the chosen few. Employers were under no obligation to allow time off for staff who had to train in lunch breaks or out of hours.
"We had lads who took three weeks off and never got paid," said Proffitt, who was demobilised from the air force in February 1948 and went to work in heavy industry.
"I was fortunate that my gaffer (boss) paid me. There was at least one who got the sack, a Liverpool lad, for going down (to London).
"Before going to training, I took a fortnight's holiday and went down to a farm and did a bit of running; just to get fit to train. Training is really hard and you've got to go in with a bit of backing. So that was preparation.
SHORTS MADE OF BLACKOUT CURTAINS
"I was a bit lucky. I had two sisters and they helped me a lot. They even made me black shorts out of the blackout curtains. I was well supported, family-wise," he added.
"My mother and sisters all chipped in and I did get an extra egg now and again."
An estimated 4 billion people from more than 200 countries are expected to watch the ceremonies when the
Games open next July. There will be wall-to-wall television coverage in the build-up and throughout.
In 1948, it was a little different.
"We never had all the cameras and television. Did you have a TV, Tommy?" asked Cooper, who hopes to carry the torch for part of the 2011 relay, as he leaned across to his old mate.
"Oh, there was one at Uxbridge," recalled Proffitt after a moment's reflection. "You had to turn it off after an hour because it got too hot."
By Alan Baldwin