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Billy Pritchard "The Fighting Postman" - real name Archibald George Pritchard - took part in more than 300 ring contests, losing only eight and at one point had 52 contests in as many weeks without a single defeat.

He never refused a contest and sometimes boxed two and three times a week. His nickname came from his day job as a postman.

He was born in 1897 in Bath, Somerset. His mother was Bertha (nee Cole) and his father was George William Pritchard. On the 1901 census returns, the young Archibald (Billy) is listed as "Archie Pritchard".

He moved to Derby in 1932 and spent the rest of his days here, bringing up three children - William, Bertha and Theresa - with his wife Kathleen who was the daughter of Pat Dowling, a former feather-weight champion of Ireland.

In a retrospective "Boxing News" article about his career, written in 1952, he said that he couldn't remember a difficult fight despite fighting some of the best fighters of the generation including Ted "Kid" Lewis, Tommy Millingan, Alex Ireland, Len Johnson (eight times), Billy Mack - from whom he won the Northern welterweight title at Liverpool Stadium - and Joe Bloomfield.

An accident in 1929 damaged the sight in his right eye and brought about Billy's retirement from the ring later that year.

He was soon back as a referee, however, and operated in that capacity all over the north of England until 1936 when he gave up refereeing and turned to coaching and training members of Derby's L.M.S. Sports Clubs in athletics and boxing.

In the 1950s he was working as a millwright's assistant at the British Railways Carriage and Wagon Department in Derby.

Billy told the "Boxing News" in 1952: "Boxing is a great game", and although he did not make himself a wealthy man out of it he enjoyed every moment of his fighting career and had no regrets.

His son, Bill Pritchard, was an active union leader and served as a local councillor for many years.

Billy Pritchard, the Fighting Postman, in his day job

A programme from Monday July 31st, 1922 when Billy fought Pat McAllister the welter-weight champion of Ireland.

Billy refereeing a match - possibly in Derby - in the early 1930s.

In 1936 Billy gave up refereeing and turned to coaching and training members of the L.M.S Sports clubs in athletics and boxing.

• Nightingale, Florence on Headline History

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County:  Derbyshire

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