This venue was run by a James Lowe from 1885 onwards. Jumper Howe was often Dick Burge's second in command when he visited Newcastle. Burge was a fighter from Cheltenham, well known in Newcastle. Up until 1895 he frequently trained with Jumper Howe at Tynemouth.

In 1887, Jumper Howe beat Bob Foster of Gateshead in the title fight. In around 1895, the new gymnasium on Barrack Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, opened as a fighting venue under Jumper Howe's management.

He had allegedly put Jumper Howe out of a job. Lowe even placed a public letter in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle explaining that the allegations were untrue and the new gymnasium had been advertised to let. Jumper Howe and a Mr Beadling then took over the Standard Theatre in Gateshead for a year to promote boxing.

Jumper Howe fought at the Standard Theatre against Vic Layton in 1897. He later took over Ginnetts Circus for a period to stage fights. It is also mentioned in this history that prior to 1900 results of fights were rarely announced in newspapers but in local pubs. However the build up to a fight was often written about in the local press.

'Left to right -
Thomas Diston, James Diston, Mary Diston, Anne Boe, and in front my Mother, Barbara Diston.'

Jumper Howe's partner was my Great Grandmother Anne Boe who was a very colourful lady.

A Romany Gypsy who used to go hawking around wealthy neighbourhoods for used and broken china that she would sell to raise money for her family. The photograph shows her with my mother, my aunt and 2 uncles.