THE children of boxing coach Ken Reynolds have paid tribute to their father’s work with youngsters in the county.

Former SAS soldier Ken Reynolds, 63, died after the car he was driving hit a parked car and a wall in the Horton Hospital car park in Banbury on Sunday, January 17.

He is believed to have suffered a heart attack at the wheel.

Last night, sons Eddy, 43, Ross, 41, and Lewis, 39, said they had been inundated with messages from people whose lives had been touched by their father.

They said he had helped scores of young boxers during his career.

Mr Reynolds, of Bankside, Banbury, was the most senior amateur boxing coach in the Home Counties and an Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) England coach.

Most notably, he was also credited with reviving the fortunes of Banbury Boxing Club – known as the Spit and Sawdust.

Son Lewis said: “So many people went to the gym, trained and moved on.

“Dad helped them out a lot and the messages we have had recognise what he did. We had messages from people saying he had a massive influence on their lives.

“There’s been a few bad lads and he did a lot to convert them and give them discipline, and for younger kids, he gave them a lot of confidence.”

Eddy added: “He was very softly spoken – he never shouted and people respected him for that.

“He produced a lot of quality boxers and brought a few medals and trophies back.”

He added: “He was a family man and that’s the main thing.

“Obviously mum supported him whatever he did — she was his back bone. Without her he would not have achieved everything he did.”

Mr Reynolds was the Home Counties ABA’s regional coach and would take the best boxers from clubs in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire to compete against other associations.

Boxing coaches based in Berinsfield and Blackbird Leys, Oxford, have already paid tribute to his contribution to the sport.

Mr Reynolds, originally from Plymouth and married to Ann, signed up to the Territorial Army and later joined the Territorial SAS, where he stayed for about 10 years, while holding down a job as an electrician.

A former marathon runner and keen footballer and kayaker, he had four grandchildren, Perry, 13, Ellie, nine, Ruby, six, and Kitty, five.

His funeral will be held at Banbury Crematorium on Monday.

After the ceremony friends and family will gather at the Easington pub, in Bloxham Road. Donations in his memory will go to Katharine House Hospice, in Adderbury.