WORLD champion judo fighter George Kerr bows out of business and sells his Edinburgh Club gym

George Kerr has won numerous awards in his lifetime as a judo fighter. Bottom left is George Kerr and Edinburgh Club's new owner Davina Downie

For more than 50 years George Kerr, CBE, has been synonymous with the Edinburgh Club gym which he founded in 1963.

Now, the still sprightly 82-year-old from Leith has decided to take a step back and hand over his gym, in West Bowling Green Street, to personal trainer Davina Downie.

“It’s been an incredible journey, and a great place to have set up,” he said.

“In fact, I think it might have been one of Edinburgh’s first ever gyms, and certainly one of the first places that did judo. There weren’t many of us judo fighters around in Edinburgh back then.”

The Club runs alongside Junior Judo Club which was, unsurprisingly, set up by the world championship fighter himself.

George has taught the modern martial art to youngsters between four to 15-years-old for more than four decades since setting up the gym.

Tributes paid to Edinburgh bodybuilding champion Norman Rough

“I was from a working class family in Leith and there wasn’t much around back then, as you can imagine. So taking up judo and following the opportunities it brought me gave me luck and an amazing journey in life.”

George’s wife Pauline, who he described as “the love of his life” has been by his side to see him win award after award.

“I was lucky,” he added,

“But one thing I will also take from it is whenever there’s an opportunity, just go for it, because it will take you somewhere.”

Davina said since taking on the gym George has not been a stranger.