Going back many years, I have been on what seems, at times, a one-man crusade to get Dick McTaggart the recognition he deserves.
By recognition, I mean a prominent display of homage by the city of Dundee to mark his wonderful exploits as an Olympic gold medal boxer.
I cannot praise highly enough the local boxing fraternity, led by Joe Duffy, who recently erected a statue of the great and elegant sportsman at the St Francis Boxing Club premises on King’s Cross Road, Beechwood, Dundee.
However much the boxing personnel see and enjoy it, not many others will and this city should be erecting a statue to Dick slap bang in the middle of Dundee, ie High Street, City Square, etc.
I have an ally in Rob Boag, a regular contributor to BwB, who tells me he is like-minded. He said: “I flicked open the digital pages of Tuesday’s Tele (June 3) and there was a photo of Dick McTaggart in awe of his majestic nine-foot replica.
“I also looked in awe at the statue, a wondrous compliment to Dick.
“At the same time, before reading the article, I was mentally speculating the location of this honour . . . the City Square, or the High Street (sic), maybe even the new Waterfront.
“However, after reading the article, I realised the statue is a magnificent magnanimous gift from Scott Fyffe and, really, who can quibble about its location at the St Francis Boxing Club in Beechwood.
“I thought again about the centre of Dundee and how another such statue or sculpture would honour not only Dick McTaggart but also Dundee and Scotland.
“Oh, I read about the Sports and Fitness club with the name McTaggart located in Dundee’s northern climes it’s not exactly the core of downtown.”
Dundonian Rob, now resident in Canada, continued: “If I was a visitor to this city from whence this champion came, I would ask . . . is there chiselled in marble or cast in bronze a mention of this man, a telling of his deeds, of his accomplishments?
“Is there a plaque with the barest details of McTaggart the champion?
“Is there mention anywhere in the centre in the heart of the city where this Scottish hero was once wined, dined, hailed and exalted by the city fathers all these decades ago?
“Is there reference where visitors can be told of a Golden Warrior who set forth from that place to claim athletic achievements and send them soaring to heights that can never be reached or equalled?
“Will Dundee’s culture planners acknowledge his illustrious sports past?
“Will we one day admire a sculpture . . . or perhaps marvel at chronicles and illustrations that honour this man’s many awards, titles and Olympian odyssey?
“Will this champion and other athletes from this place be considered for an exhibition in the renaissance design that sticks its toe into the waters of the Tay?
“Thank you, Dick, for elevating the level of artistic display, of skill and performance.
“Boxing has been named the sport of Sweet Science.
“There are few boxers in the long history of the sport that had the technique, reflexes, forethought and elegance to honour the definition of Sweet Science.
“Dick . . . you are one of the very few.”
A wonderful personal tribute by Rob.
Joe Duffy, secretary of St Francis ABC in whose King’s Cross Road clubhouse the Dick McTaggart statue is situated, also feels the statue should be in the city centre.
Joe commented: “Although I’m delighted the statue of Dundee’s most famous sporting son is in our premises, I would not be unhappy to see it stationed in the city centre.
“Dick’s record is remarkable, Olympic gold and bronze, European gold, Commonwealth gold and silver and five British titles.
“Having his statue right in the centre of Dundee is a fitting tribute to this fantastic man.
“Having it in our clubrooms is a great inspiration to our boys but having it in the city centre would be a great inspiration to thousands more.”
So, city fathers, just do the deed!
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.