Personalities ln Sport

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 334, 20 April 1928, Page 10

Personalities ln Sport

A Great All-Rounder and Ex-N.Z. League Rep.

'V’O other figure on the administra-+» tion side of the Auckland boxing j ; world is as well-known as Mr. W. E. i . Dervan. official announcer of the ; , Northern Boxing Association. No carnival would be complete with- ■ out him in the ring announcing the , names of the boxers. His voice re- \ sounds through the Town Hall telling ; the details of the coming fight to the fans near the stage, away at the Jack, under the gallery, and up in tne “gods.” “Bill,” as he is popularly known to his friends and acquaintances, has known no active participation in the hempen square, but even before he commenced to take an active part in the conducting of bouts he was a keen and enthusiastic follower of the game. His enthusiasm has abated not one whit, and his interest is not confined to New Zealand, as he follows the game in Australia very closely, and also keeps a keen watch on affairs in the land of the dollar. Mr. Dervan’s active interest in boxing dates from 1912, when he jo ned the Northern Association. Since that time he has been an official, and a year later he became a committee man. For the past three years he has been the official announcer. He has represented his association at conferences

►on three occasions, and has also aged teams representing V\ hen Johnny Summers, one welter-weight champion of EnglkSi came to these shores and brought ,? Lonsdale belt with him. he placed fc-ii self and his belt under Mr. Derv-. care. The belt, which was valued,', £4OO was exhibited in a shop window and had to be placed in a safe ever? evening, as Summers did not seem t r ; worry a deal about the trophy. v r c I Dervan had to shoulder the resnoii sibility for its safety. Other fields of interest in byton* days were swimming and football. jj r Dervan represented Auckland at th* former sport at the age of 13. and m>. resented Auckland and New Zoalard at League football in 1912. He also played the Canadian game of Lacrosse, and was a member of tb* Shamrock team which won the championship in the season 1902-1903. A keen yachting enthusiast, Mr. Dervan is a supporter of the Victoria Cruising Club, and together with hi? brother. Mr. E. R. Dervan. ;ave , cup, known as the “Jack Boonstra Memorial Cup.” as a challenge tropfcv to be raced for annually. Mr. was one of the original founders ©' the Marist Rugby Club, and was ife© well known on racecourses in th* Auckland district some years ago.