Precious film

Precious Mckenzie was born in the Red Cross Hospital, in Durban in 1936. His mother Christina named him Precious. At the age of four, his father Joseph was killed by a crocodile in the Limpopo River. As a result his mother became an alcoholic. Precious and his sister Gloria were placed in foster care. At the age of 11, Precious’s athletic ability was noticed by Catholic mission in Pofadder. Father Franklin encouraged and trained him in gymnastics. Precious returned to his mother in Pietermaritzburg when he was 17 and started working at a shoe factory. Every morning he went to Steve’s Gym, where the owner Kevin Stent encouraged him to try weightlifting. In 1958 Precious won the Natal Bantamweight weightlifting title. By 1960 he was regarded as South Africa’s best weightlifter. He was chosen for the national team in 1963, but declined to join. He immigrated to England, ahead of his wife Elisabeth and daughters Vanessa and Sandra. He lived in Northampton and worked in a factory, and continued training and competing. In 1966 his citizenship was fast-tracked and two years later he represented England in the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica; winning a gold medal in the Bantamweight division. He became the first athlete to win gold medals at four consecutive Commonwealth Games. In 1974 he was awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1975 Precious and his family moved to Auckland, New Zealand. Now an international film is being made of his life, by James and Lance Morcan, a Kiwi father and son team. Filming start in November in South Africa, the UK and New Zealand. In South Africa filming will be in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.