Charles Thompson

Charles Thompson was a captain in the Army attached to the Physical Training Corps at Aldershot during World War II. Dedicated to boxing, he was involved with the sport for more than 50 years, serving as an ABA referee and judge for many years, including at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics.

Thompson was the managing director of a sports goods dealer and was living in Farnborough when his first wife Constance died in 1952. In March 1963, aged 70, Thompson married Mrs. Tusie Boone of Long Island, having met her in the USA the previous year while he was visiting friends.

During the 1955 European Boxing Championships at West Berlin, Thompson was involved in an unusual incident. He was refereeing the bantamweight contest, between Alphonse Halimi (France) and Boris Stepanov (Russia). The judges could not separate the two boxers and Thompson was asked to give the casting vote, which he gave in favour of the Russian. This proved to be a very unpopular decision with the spectators. As a result, two days later, Thompson asked to be removed as a referee for the remainder of the Championships, which he was, although he did continue as a judge.