Funeral for Southampton boxer and traveller 'legend' Bimmy Ward

Earlier today, more than 300 friends, family and fellow travellers gave beloved grandfather James Ward a fitting send off at St Edmund's Catholic Church.

The funeral saw The Avenue filled with a convoy of Rolls-Royce cars and white horses.

The entrance of the church was adorned with flower arrangements of boxing gloves and pints of Guinness alongside pictures of the 62-year-old, with one display spelling out the word ‘undefeated’ – a nod to James’ boxing record.

Known to most as ‘Bimmy’ or ‘Jimmy’, he died of a heart condition on Tuesday, April 2.

James’ younger sister, Noreen Ward, 54, told the Echo that despite being an incredibly talented boxer, he didn’t like to fight and was a gentle soul.

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Noreen said: “He was so well known in Southampton and in the traveller community.

“When Bimmy was just 11, he beat his 11-month-older brother Paddy in a fight. From that moment on he was destined to be a boxer.

“He would always make us laugh and had a great sense of humour. Bimmy was so truthful and honest – it would often get him in trouble, but he would never tell a lie.

“In his life he had more than 120 amateur boxing fights – and he never lost.”

The high-spirited service saw his closest family members arriving in the convoy of cars - each with a flag marked with ‘Jimmy Ward'.

After an emotional service, James was taken by horse and carriage to Hollybrook Cemetery where he was buried.

Born in Cambridge on April 14, 1961, as one of nine siblings, James moved to Southampton when he was young and spent most of his life here.

The grandfather had eight children of his own with his late wife Pauline - but was best known in Southampton as an amateur boxer.

James trained locally at the Southampton Amateur Boxing Club and also at the Jack Bishop Boxing Gym on Captains Place.

In 1987, James had had a bare-knuckle boxing bout that went on for more than an hour. Noreen said that despite ending in a draw, this was as close as he ever came to losing.

The bout only ended in a draw because James had split open his eye and his opponent had broken his hand.

James’ younger brother Michael said he was often the ‘bag boy’ for his older brother when training.

He said: “When you’re in the traveller community, people like to challenge you and Bimmy had a reputation.

“But he was never rowdy, and he hated bullies. He was a quiet and gentle soul.

“He was a man’s man, a loving father, husband and grandfather.”

• See full coverage of Bimmy's funeral in tomorrow's Daily Echo.