After defeating Yorkshire’s Bruce Woodcock in November 1950, Gardner was crowned British heavyweight champion, a title he held for two years, and later added the European title.
In 1952, Gardner lost his belt in a rematch with Welshman Williams and shortly afterwards he retired from the sport at the age of 25.
A year later, Gardner made a triumphant return to the sport with five consecutive victories and beat Williams in their third and final battle in 1955 to set up a shot at regaining the British heavyweight crown.
Unfortunately, Gardner suffered a knee injury in training, meaning the fight with Don Cockell was cancelled. Gardner never got another crack at the title.
Following his second retirement from boxing in 1956, with a record of 28 wins – 23 by knockout – and six losses from 34 fights, Gardner turned his hand to farming at his Leicestershire smallholding and poultry farm.
“When he won the [British heavyweight] title, it gave him the money to buy the farm,” Jackalyn said.
“Neither of my parents had any experience of farming so they must have woken up the next morning and thought ‘what have we done?’
“But the farmers around him were incredibly helpful. A farmer lent dad his bull – that was so generous.
“He did have chickens but his main occupation was a dairy farmer. He was a very grounded man, he didn’t have high aspirations.
“What he was doing on the farm was exactly what he wanted to do.”
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