An exhibition about ‘he Yellow Earl of Lonsdale has been boosted by a unique star attraction.
The Beacon Museum, in Whitehaven, has been hosting the exhibition, which charts the extravagant lifestyle of Hugh Cecil Lowther – known as ‘The Yellow Earl’ because of his fondness for the colour.
Among other achievements, the fifth Earl of Lonsdale helped create the modern sport of boxing – formulating rules, regulating the sport and donating the first Lonsdale Belt, versions of which are still awarded today.
Now visitors to the Beacon Museum can see an authentic, brand new Lonsdale Belt – one of the sport’s most coveted prizes. It has been commissioned and loaned to the museum by the British Boxing Board of Control and belt manufacturers Fattorini.
The board of control has confirmed that the belt will be awarded in a future championship fight, but is yet to confirm which one.
The Beacon Museum’s customer and visitor experience manager, Heather Holmes, said: “We are extremely excited about this historic addition to the Hugh Cecil Lowther exhibition. Lonsdale Belts are of course among the biggest prizes in British boxing, and this is a rare chance to see a real one up close.
“The Yellow Earl was an adventurer and philanthropist, but his contribution to boxing is one of his longest-lived legacies. He helped establish the BBBofC and, to this day, a portrait of his face adorns every belt awarded by the body. It’s really appropriate that this highly important item be a part of the Earl’s story, and we’re very grateful for its loan.”
Hugh Cecil Lowther, Fifth Earl of Lonsdale, owned much of Whitehaven and its coalfields, as well as assets around the country, but is said to have lived an extravagant lifestyle and spent the family fortune by the time he died in 1944.
The exhibition covers the extraordinary highs and lows of his unusual life.
It includes lots of activities for children and families – including igloo-making workshops, circus skills, Wii boxing and dressing up.
The exhibition runs until June 26 and the Lonsdale Belt will remain on display in the museum’s foyer until September.
