Priory Lodge of Acton

W Bro Richard Cavanagh writes

 In this edition of Beyond the Square, we meet Bro Pat Harris, a member of Cupressus Lodge No 8260.  Pat is a London-based boxing coach who runs the Double Jab Boxing Club, based at The Moonshot Centre in Lewisham. 

At Arena, we had been looking forward to writing about Pat’s work with the Double Jab club for some time, when his friend and fellow Mason, Bro Neil Macdonald, got in touch with his own remarkable story about Pat from earlier this year.

On 25th February, Pat was ringside at the Double Jab when fellow boxing coach John McKenna, who was conducting a junior class, suddenly collapsed in the ring. Neil, who was also present, picks up the story. “Pat reacted immediately. He jumped into the ring and was at John's side within seconds. After quickly assessing the situation, Pat recognised that John had suffered a heart attack. He promptly cleared his airway and began administering CPR.  Thanks to his swift and decisive actions, John soon began breathing again. 

“Pat then placed him in the recovery position and fetched the club’s Automated External Defibrillator (AED) as a precaution. Paramedics arrived shortly afterwards and praised Pat for his quick thinking and life-saving intervention, stating that his actions had undoubtedly saved John’s life.”

“When I got home and shared the incident with my wife, she suggested that Pat be nominated for an award from the Royal Humane Society. I completed and submitted the nomination online the following day.”

Following Neil’s nomination, the Society’s committee met on 23rd April and agreed to award Pat the Resuscitation Certificate in recognition of his bravery and for restoring life to another person.  

Neil, who has been good friends with Pat for over 50 years, decided to present him with the certificate as a surprise at a meeting of the Lodge of Quality No 9356 (Surrey) of which, in addition to Cupressus Lodge No 8260, they are also both members.  “The certificate was subsequently posted to me. We had it framed, and I presented it to Pat at our Lodge in Croydon on 10th June.”

We asked Pat about the award and the importance of learning CPR. “It’s hard to put into words what this means to me”, he says. “I didn’t think twice in that moment – I just did what I was trained to do. To know that it helped save John’s life is incredibly emotional. Receiving this award is an honour, but the real reward is knowing he’s still here. I can’t stress enough how important it is for everyone to learn CPR. You never think you'll need it – until you do.”

For those who know Pat, his life-saving actions on 25^th February are just another example of his caring nature and determination to help others.  Indeed, Pat’s role as the proprietor of Double Jab demonstrates his purpose and generosity of spirit in thinking of others and dedication to improving the life chances of those less fortunate.   

You see, Double Jab is more than just a boxing club – it’s a vital community hub where young people build fitness, confidence and life skills; and vulnerable youngsters in particular are encouraged to step away from gang culture and violence. Since forming in 2012, the club has transformed the lives of many London youths by getting them off the streets and into boxing gyms through their powerful campaign, 'Jab Don’t Stab': steering at-risk youngsters away from violence by offering a positive path through boxing.  To this end, the club actively targets London’s most vulnerable young people, offering them a safe haven and a way out of the cycle of gang and knife crime. For these young people, boxing isn’t just a sport, it’s also a pathway to discipline, focus, and self-empowerment, providing valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the ring. 

As Pat explains: “Our coaching goes beyond boxing and teaches discipline, respect and commitment to all our members, giving them the moral foundations to tackle all that life will throw their way. We mentor our members through life’s challenges, offering guidance and support both inside and outside the gym. We’re more than a boxing club; we’re a family.  Our diverse membership promotes integration while our female coaches and boxers demonstrate our all-inclusive approach to the sport. We welcome all ages and abilities, with the promise of equal opportunity and support. We are, and always will be, far more than a boxing club.” 

To extend their reach beyond the gym, the club has taken boxing into schools and also launched mini boxing clubs across Lewisham.  The club has also rightly been recognised for their efforts to create meaningful social change.  In fact, since its inception, the club has been the winner of London’s Sports Club of the Year in 2016, ranked in the Top 10 Best Boxing Clubs in London by GQ magazine, and their Head Coach – Pat’s son Michael – won London's Unsung Hero of the Year Award in 2016. He was also awarded the prestigious Points of Light Award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers making positive impacts in their communities, presented by then Prime Minister Teresa May in 2017.

On behalf of Arena and Freemasons across London, we congratulate Pat and his dedicated team at the Double Jab Boxing Club on their efforts changing and saving lives – and to Pat in particular for saving one cherished life inside the ring and many more young lives both inside and outside of it. 

Pat Harris is a member of Cupressus Lodge No 8260 (London) and the Lodge of Quality No 9356 (Surrey).  His son Michael is also a member of both Lodges, while his youngest son, Joss, is a member of the Lodge of Quality.  His good friend, Neil, is also a member of both Lodges and a Trustee of the boxing club.  The Double Jab Boxing Club ABC (Charity Number: 1173059) is based at The Moonshot Centre, Angus Street, London SE14 6LU.  

The club’s survival depends mainly on recreational boxing sessions and the generous support it receives through donations.  If you would like to find out more about the club or how you can support their great work, please visit their website at https://www.doublejabboxing.com  

This article is part of the Arena Magazine Issue 58 – Summer 2025 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in Arena Issue 58 here.

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