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Gazette reporter studied karate with Crown Prince

The Colchester Evening Gazette had a unique angle on the massacre of the Nepalese royal family.
Chief reporter Laurence Cawley knew Prince Dipendra through a shared talent for martial arts.
Here, in an article first published in the Gazette, he remembers his time with the Prince.


“On Saturday I found out an old karate friend had allegedly killed eight members of his family, and this morning I learned the person I shared winning my first black-belt with, had died.

“The late King Dipendra was head of his school’s karate club as I was at mine, and we shared the same teacher, Jerry McGelligot.

“I’m shocked by the events which have unfolded, and I’m saddened by his death. No doubt there will be a lot of speculation about what happened at the palace on Friday night, but for me, I fondly remember a robust, friendly, generous man who had a very natural air of gentility about him.

“No doubt he also had a strong warrior impulse, Nepal has a strong warrior tradition. But, for me, he showed his warrior spirit through his karate and general manner – strong and determined, restrained and calm, a far cry from violence.

“Between us we arranged joint-school karate events, which combined competitions and grading ceremonies.

“When I took my first black-belt, it was the then Crown Prince Dipendra, affectionately known as Dippy, who I had to fight. He was hoping to get his second Dan black belt.

“For a 15-year-old kid who grew up in Halifax it was a strange situation, having to either kick or punch a future monarch – protected by two bodyguards at the corner of the training area – to attain a black-belt.

“Before the bout, I remember wanting to stop and ask his bodyguards what they would do if I accidentally hit him. But then when I was kicked by him, I realised the Prince had no problem with contact so nor should I.

“We were the only people to get our black belts that day, the day after my 15th birthday. While it would be wrong to say we were friends, we shared a strong passion – karate – and we had a good working relationship organising shared events.”

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