“The Pride of Poplar”
Erected in memory of Teddy Baldock, World Bantamweight Champion 1927, born 23.05.1907, died 08.03.1971.
On 5th May 1927, at the Albert Hall London, Teddy Baldock was crowned Bantamweight Champion of the World after defeating Archie Bell of America for the vacant title. Aged just 19 and 347 days, he became Britain's youngest ever world boxing champion of the modern era.
European Champion 1928-1937, undefeated Commonwealth Champion 1928-1930, and British Bantamweight Champion 1927-1937.
Sculptor Carl Payne
When we first visited, September 2014, there was no plaque, just two holes drilled in the front of the plinth to indicate that there had been one. December 2015 our colleague Alan Patient found this plaque in place. We don't normally give plaques attached to statues' plinths their own page but since this one is quite nice, and also has a history of disappearing, we thought we'd give it the treatment.
Site: Teddy Baldock (2 memorials)
E14, Bright Street, Langdon Park DLR Station
Facebook page shows the unveiling. Langdon Park School, the buildings just to the south of the statue, is built on the site of Baldock's childhood home in Byron Street.
