The voice of boxing, Harry Carpenter – who had a home
in Sandwich for 25 years – has died aged 84.

Mr Carpenter had been unwell since
suffering a heart attack last summer. He died in his sleep in
London’s King’s College hospital in the early hours of Sunday.

He was patron of Sandwich Amateur Boxing
Club and chairman Frank Cornwall fondly remembers him attending
boxing shows and presenting trophies.

“He will be sorely missed,” said Mr
Cornwall.

Through boxer Frank Bruno, he became the
subject of the well known catchphrase: “Know what I mean, ’Arry?”
and the pair enjoyed a long association.

Town councillor John Bragg said: “He
loved Sandwich and he and his wife Phyllis often came down.

“He bought a house on the corner of
Fisher Street and Upper Strand Street 25 years ago just before his
retirement.”

A keen golfer, he joined Royal St
George’s Golf Club, an Open Championship venue. Secretary
Christopher Gabbey said in later years Mr Carpenter was a
non-playing member.

Cllr Bragg said Mr Carpenter would
support many Sandwich causes and through cricket commentator and
friend Jim Swanton, who also lived in Sandwich, he backed St
Clement’s Church appeal to repair the roof of the Knightrider
Street church in the mid 1990s.

As well as his boxing coverage, Mr
Carpenter presented Sportsnight, Grandstand and the Sports
Personality of the Year show for the BBC.

Mr Carpenter also presented the BBC’s
Sports Personality of the Century award to Muhammad Ali, having
been present at the epic fight in 1974 – dubbed the ‘Rumble in the
Jungle’ – when he regained the world heavyweight title by knocking
out George Foreman.