FORMER Mayor of Newport Noel Trigg has led the tributes to Gwent boxing trainer Albert Fouweather, who has died at the age of 86.

Fouweather, who lived with his family in Maindee, was one of the most prominent names and faces in the Welsh amateur boxing scene for a number of decades.

Trigg, who himself used to box professionally, even thought enough of Fouweather to allow him to take over a gym he’d set up.

“I opened a boxing club and Albert came and took it over, it was becoming too big to deal with and he was like a breath of fresh air,” said Trigg.

“It was called the Harlequin Boxing Club and from the moment he came in there he was given the utmost respect, as he was over the decades wherever he went, because he’s been one of the finest boxing trainers in Newport.

“Over the years Albert produced some really good boxers, some top boys and he was just so passionate about the sport.

“He was a top, top trainer.”

Fouweather is also associated with spells as trainer at Pill Labour Hall and Maindee ABC.

In his personal life Fouweather was married to Flo and is survived by his children Tony and Malcolm and stepchildren Marilyn and Keith.