The founders of the United Reformed Church, built in 1846, would have struggled to imagine its latest incarnation as a boxing club.

Sparring partners, father and son, both Danny Kelly wanted to create a gym for locals without expensive membership and with simple apparatus.

Starting from scratch 18 months ago, the pair set up the town’s first boxing club for more than 30 years.

Mr Kelly, senior, 55 said: “I learned the discipline of boxing during six years in the Royal Engineers, the club was my son’s idea as he wanted somewhere without complicated equipment for keeping fit but with a focus.

“The whole point is to keep the training cheap and manageable - it is rough and ready based on army circuit training.” “To begin with 10 people turned up and no-one had taken part in boxing. We held training in Tweedbank Barns, outgrew that and moved to the Mission Hall in Haliburton Place.” The fledgling club grew quickly with membership now over 110 - 79 adults and 34 juniors. But it became obvious that to really progress it would need its own home. Mr Kelly continued: “We contacted the United Reformed Church minister Leslie Morrison with this building in mind - he has been very supportive. This building had been empty for six years and was beginning to deteriorate.

“Rev Morrison used our building’s transformation as an example in a London Lecture on alternative uses of church buildings rather than just converting them to residential property.

“We are very lucky in having a supporter who is trying to do things for the community. At Friday night’s official opening ceremony we will get the lease and have two years on the existing arrangement.” It took hard graft, many offers of free labour and expertise and a £7,000 lottery grant to reverse the building’s decline.

“There was dry rot, burst pipes, fungus, pews and an organ, some of the ceilings had collapsed, the oil fired old central heating system was condemned,” said Mr Kelly senior, “We ripped out the six inch double cast iron central heating pipes and the boiler, which together with the pews were sold for architectural salvage and helped to pay some of the other costs.” Sutherland Slaters fixed the roof free of charge and supplied all the materials, Nirvana Preservation treated all the woodwork for free, Hutchison’s Carpets did all the flooring without charge, MK Electrical did the wiring and Pillow Creative all the decals and logos.

Clubsport Ettrick and Lauderdale and the Rowan Boland Trust provided funds toward the jigsaw flooring.

“We are indebted to Mark Forsyth at Borders Sport and Leisure Trust - he came in at a time when I was losing energy and advised what sort of grants and lottery awards might be available,” said Mr Kelly senior.

Refurbishment works have been a family affair. Boxing coaches Jim Gow and Jim Doris were both supported by their wives, Carrie and Gina, respectively with Sadie Kelly doing much of the internal cleaning and painting.

Mr Kelly Junior said: “Floor to ceiling pillars have special fittings made to support three punchbags, the 16-foot training ring is where the pulpit used to be but we have kept a light above which has a glowing red cross.” Within six months of the formation of the club it attracted some high profile members including former Scottish champion Malky Gowans, 48 who is now the president.

The club is affiliated to Boxing Scotland with coaches sent on courses, including first, aid and there is a dedicated child protection officer.

Regular training sessions run on three days a week with ladies boxercise from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Mondays and Thursdays followed by men from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Juniors take over on Fridays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. It costs £20 a year to join with weekly costs for both sessions set at £5. The youngest member is seven and the eldest 60.

All are welcome at Friday night’s official opening from 7pm, which is being supported by former world champion Alex Arthur.

“Soon we’ll have 300 members and a Commonwealth champion - we have got to set our targets high,”added Danny, senior