Padre James Mealy recently answered the call to judge the highly anticipated ‘Rumble in the Deid’ boxing competition in Qatar.
UK and US boxers took part in 19 bouts in the intense heat of Al Udeid Air Base, with the RAF chaplain bringing his expertise from the pulpit to the ring.
“It was an honour to judge ‘the Rumble in the Deid’, it was like things came full circle and my boxing past was useful again. Being a Padre in the RAF gives us so many humbling moments and opportunities and I am forever grateful for my vocation.”
Padre Mealy
From a young boy in Bearwood, Birmingham, to a respected figure in both the boxing and military communities, six-year-old James was first encouraged by his mother to take up the sport. He began boxing at Warley Boxing Club, located not too far from his family’s pub, The Bear Tavern.
Under the mentorship of professional boxer Howard Clarke, also known as Clakka, Padre Mealy honed his skills and competed in numerous competitions, becoming the regional Junior Champion for the West Midlands at 14.
“Clarke had a massive impact on my love for boxing and he enabled me to reach for the heights”
Padre James
A road traffic accident at age 16 saw James retire his gloves, but his passion for boxing never waned. In 2016, as the Chaplain for 2, 26 and 27 Squadron RAF Regiment based at RAF Honington, he played a pivotal role in coaching and mentoring young service members preparing to compete in tri-service boxing competitions.
Personnel are based at Al Udeid Air Base as part of the RAF’s 83 Expeditionary Air Group conducting operations in the Middle East, and Padre Mealy is one of two RAF chaplains providing vital welfare support and religious services to deployed personnel across the entire region.
