Care home surprises retired boxer with return to the ring

A resident at a care home in Slough has made a surprise return to the boxing ring.

Jimmy Mitchell, aged 82, a resident at Care UK's Oak House, on Forest Close, returned to the ring, after he expressed a wish to return to the sport. 

Jimmy started boxing at the age of 10. He then competed in the national super light division from 1962 until 1966, racking up fifteen wins, including twelve knockouts. Jimmy retired from the sport in 1966 but always wished to return and pass on his knowledge to the next generation. 

After learning about his time spent as a boxer in the 1960s, and his wish to get back in the ring, the team at Oak House didn’t want Jimmy to hang up his gloves just yet - and planned a surprise outing to Thames Valley Athletics Centre

On the day, Jimmy, along team members, travelled to the gym where they were met by Kaileb the gym instructor and his mixed level class. During the class, Jimmy loved sharing his stories and answering questions about his time as a competitive boxer. 

Jimmy said: “The best part of the visit was sharing my expertise and hearing about their dreams of becoming professional and to see those who just love the mental and physical fitness it gives. It feels so unreal to be a part of the sport again, I did not think at my age I would have to chance to box again. My advice to anybody in the ring would be to always think about your opponent's next move.”

The visit was part of Care UK’s ‘Wishing Tree’ Initiative, which encourages residents to put wishes forward, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new – from flying a plane to enjoying a night at the opera, no wish is too big or small.

Agnieszka Klimkowicz-Buda, Home Manager at Oak House, said: “We were delighted to create a memorable afternoon for Jimmy, which fulfilled his passion for boxing while providing an opportunity to reminisce on his time spent in the ring. It was fantastic to surprise him and see what a wonderful time he had!

“At Oak House, we regularly create thoughtful activities and events that promote positive wellbeing among the residents. The whole team look forward to learning more about the wonderful experiences the residents have enjoyed throughout their lives and creating imaginative activities that build on their talents. 

“The team were thrilled that we were able to organise this for Jimmy and that he could pass on his skills to the next generation of boxers. We can’t wait to organise the next wish – we are not going to throw in the towel yet!”

Oak House provides residential, nursing and short-term respite care, as well as specialist dementia care. The home enables residents to live active and fulfilled lives while also promoting independence.