Traveller, Boxer and Fascist

Born into travelling showperson family in Victorian English, Beckett became British heavyweight champion- and found himself imprisoned in 1940 due to his involvement with the British Union of Fascists. Written by Beckett’s great-granddaughter, this is a revealing portrait of a complicated man and his many identities.

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In the early twentieth century, Joe Beckett carved out his boxing career. While many pugilists represented Britain in the heavyweight championship bouts of the era, Beckett’s identity was unique. Born into a travelling showperson family, he boxed in the fairground booths from a young age before being discovered in late teens and catapulted into professional fighting. Beckett’s remarkable background was not the only exceptional aspect of his life as, during the 1930s, he became prominently involved with the British Union of Fascists – a connection that ensured his destination in 1940, as Europe fought.

Exploring this complex character’s many identities, and touching on themes of Britishness, the allure of far-right ideology and concepts of masculinity, Joe Beckett’s great-granddaughter, Jennifer Lewis-Vidler, peels back the layers to paint a portrait of a man born under the punches of Victorian Britain.