FORMER pupils at a York school which was demolished in 1996 have made a generous donation to a planned new community boxing club. 

St George's Old Boys Association held its annual reunion at York NHS Social Club in White Cross Road and donated £200 to Charlie Malarkey's New Earswick Boxing (KO) for Kindness club project.

The club, which is in the process of being built at New Earswick Sports Club aims to get people off the streets and give them a purpose in life already has planning permission for a brand new gym.

The man behind the project, the Salvation Army’s Charlie Malarkey, said he is very grateful to the group for their generosity.

He said: "Work is underway on the footings this week and we will be pouring concrete next Monday and then it's the steel work.

"We have had some fatastic donations - MKM Building Supplies and Jewsons are donating toilets, sinks and breeze blocks and ADS Scaffolding York has provided the skips and a grabber to get rid of the soil. Gem Construction has provided us with a digger - which I am learning to use and Cemex has supplied the concrete.

"The other day a lady gave us £500 for punchbags - she wants to remain anonymous, but it's an amazing gesture."

Earlier this year Salvation Army manager, Charlie received the York Community Pride Outstanding Contribution Award, sponsored by Home Instead, at a ceremony held at York Racecourse in September.

He has worked for the charity for 17 years and leads its early intervention and prevention team in York.

He is now calling on builders to get in touch if they think they can help with the next stages of the project.

Please contact Charles.Malarkey@salvationarmy.org.uk or phone 07712443163.

St George’s RC Secondary Modern School was renowned for its sports - talented swimmers, boxers, footballers and rugby players all attended.

The school closed in 1985 and was demolished in 1996.

There have been regular annual reunions of ‘old boys’ since 2012, although the 2020 event was postponed because of Covid.