54 images Created 10 Jan 2025
Grit and Determination: Training Under the Arches
In the mid-80s, while still a student in Leicester, I often visited London and frequently passed Fitzroy Lodge, discreetly tucked under the railway arches in Lambeth, on the bus. Eventually, I summoned the courage to wander in with my camera and asked if I could take photographs. I was welcomed with open arms and vividly remember the smell of sweat and leather and the sound of boxing gloves pounding punch bags.
The gym was dark and a bit rough around the edges, but it felt raw, real, and very exciting. My aim was to capture that raw energy and the determination of the young boys and men training at the club, as well as the gritty, no-frills environment where they sparred under the watchful eyes of dedicated trainers.
Founded in 1908 by Lambeth surgeon Lionel Baly, Fitzroy Lodge was originally located at Walcott Square but was destroyed during the Second World War. It found its permanent home under the arches in Lambeth in 1946, where it still stands today. When I visited, the gym was run by former boxers Mick Carney and Billy Webster, both of whom have sadly passed away. Mick’s legacy, however, lives on through Fitzroy Lodge and Carney’s Community, a charity that supports disadvantaged people with mentoring and activities to help them reach their potential and build a sense of community.
The gym was dark and a bit rough around the edges, but it felt raw, real, and very exciting. My aim was to capture that raw energy and the determination of the young boys and men training at the club, as well as the gritty, no-frills environment where they sparred under the watchful eyes of dedicated trainers.
Founded in 1908 by Lambeth surgeon Lionel Baly, Fitzroy Lodge was originally located at Walcott Square but was destroyed during the Second World War. It found its permanent home under the arches in Lambeth in 1946, where it still stands today. When I visited, the gym was run by former boxers Mick Carney and Billy Webster, both of whom have sadly passed away. Mick’s legacy, however, lives on through Fitzroy Lodge and Carney’s Community, a charity that supports disadvantaged people with mentoring and activities to help them reach their potential and build a sense of community.
