Ex-boxer nominated for city's highest honour

A former boxer turned entrepreneur said he was "over the moon" to have been nominated for his home town's highest civic award.

Tommy Coyle has been put forward to receive the Freedom of the City of Hull, along with solicitor Neil Hudgell.

The 35-year-old became Commonwealth lightweight champion in 2018 and has since led a series of charitable initiatives including tackling child poverty and youth violence.

He said: "I was blown away to be honest. At first I thought it was a joke and I was just really taken back. It's such a huge honour."

The Freedom of the City is a way for Hull to acknowledge and celebrate those who have made a positive impact on the city and its people.

Mr Coyle said: "Regardless of the award, I'm still going to continue the things that I do and I still have my own mission that I want to achieve in Hull."

The Coyle family fruit business has a stall in Hull City Centre. It has been running for more than 30 years and was originally set up by Chris Coyle, who passed away in 2022.

He said: "My dad would have deep down been really really proud of this and been down the market telling people our Thomas has been nominated for Freedom of the City. I think he'd have been happy."

Mr Coyle set up a sporting foundation when he retired from boxing in 2019 and has led multiple initiatives for underprivileged children, including a mobile boxing gym and school uniform giveaways.

Hull City Councillors Shane McMurray and Daren Hale nominated Mr Coyle and Mr Hudgell and said: "These nominations celebrate two individuals who represent the very best of Hull – commitment to community, achievement, and giving back."

They described Mr Hudgell as "a leading solicitor, philanthropist, and lifelong champion for justice, sport, and regeneration in Hull."

Mr Coyle said: "It feels great to be thought of in this nice way, I think to be recognised in the same sort of light as Neil Hudgell who I've looked up to for years."

The nominations of Mr Coyle and Mr Hudgell will be discussed at a full meeting of Hull City Council later.

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