Alan passed away last week after a long illness. Alan was a great supporter and player of the club and was a Past President of Purley RFC holding office between 1983 -1985.

Alan was a star studded pupil at Purley Grammar School winning a scholarship to Keeble College, Oxford, almost unheard at Purley in the early fifties. He was also appointed a Director of British Steel, then a huge Nationalised corporation, in his early thirties.

Our thoughts are with June, Alan’s wife for over 50 years and his two children Gavin and Melissa

Alan’s funeral is being held at The Holy Trinity Church Crockham Hill this Wednesday, 28th January at 12:30pm.

Ken Spain

Ken passed away last week after being admitted to hospital as a result of having a very nasty fall skiing. Ken joined the club after completing his National Service in Germany. He came training on the green opposite Grange Park and after a couple of his trade mark big tackles this saw him straight into the First XV in the days when the club ran 5/6 sides. With his great positional sense and fearless tackles he was first choice full back for a number of decades in the First XV. He played at every opportunity, 1st XV Saturday and anyone on Sunday. He also played for his reformed services side from Germany which they called Goch Old Boys.

Ken played at the club through five decades which was celebrated by a match at the club in which many old friends dug out mildew boots from sheds and lofts and played a highly competitive match. Rugby was a big part of Ken's life and his second sporting love was skiing.

Ken is being cremated In Geneva and at present there are no plans for a memorial service although that may well change.

Our thoughts are with Agnes, Ken’s wife for many years and with his children Jonathan and Lulu.

A few words from Ken’s playing mates;

When the ball in a scrum was won by the opposition ( which was only ever on their put in ) the first thing a prop does, is to see how they are going to use it and where you are going to have to go for the next breakdown. With Ken playing behind you at full back, you knew that whatever they did to break through your defence, you could rely on Ken to be there in position to make the tackle, field the kick, find touch or choose the right time to counter attack and run with the ball.

A lot has been said about his playing skills, but for me he was always in the right place at the right time on the field, providing the absolute reliability that every forward hopes for in a full back. That reliability extended to off the field too. You knew that whatever it was in your relationship with Ken, he would never let you down.

Peter Cox

When I started playing for the First XV around 1962 Ken was the resident full back and for at least ten years was the first name on the team sheet in every sense.

With Ken at full back you could not ask for anything more. Although not lighting fast he had a brilliant sense of position and fielded high balls with a safe and sure pair of hands. He must have dropped the odd ball on a wet, windy and greasy day but if he did I just can't remember it and his defensive kicking was always safe. If we were under pressure and Ken had the ball in his hands it was going to be a line out and time to regroup. In attack Ken entered the line with confidence and incisiveness, he was strong and made the try line on occasions when it looked unlikely.

But Ken's stand out play was his defensive tackling. Think Premier League crunch tackles, big hits, Ken invented them. He would line a runner up, just drifting towards him from quite deep, then suddenly accelerate, take off waste high parallel with the ground and hit the runner in the mid riff at full tilt. Smack!! Ken would often get up quite slowly but the attacker took minutes and mentally never recovered. Absolutely devastating! I know we won matches because very good centres were completely taken out of the game after a Spain hit. It wasn't just for one season either, because we played the same clubs season after season and the same players were around for many years in those days, centres would remember what had happened and be on the lookout for Ken - better be safe and pass the ball early than take another big hit. Probably worth 5 points a game against some clubs.

I have this abiding memory, the game is generic and unimportant, we are playing a new club, Sidcup, Maidstone, Streatham Croydon, Tredegar, they are a cut above Old Purlians (as we were before the Cavalry arrived, thank you John Fisher), the game is not going well for Purley, we are a little over awed, their backs start to play with some penetration and suddenly a smart winger cuts inside and is through, 20 yards out, a smile starts to grow on his face, the try line is in sight. From nowhere - Smack!! He goes backwards five yards, he takes a long time to get up, Ken Spain gets up and turns away smiling quietly. We are given fresh heart, the pack starts grinding, the backs start moving across the gain line, the game changes. The result could go Old Purlians way. Thank you Ken.

Thank you Ken for some great rugby, some great evenings, some great skiing, some fun tennis and for being a lovely and lasting friend. We shall all miss you.

Paul Gawith

Rugby was a big part of Ken's life yet he had time to meet and marry three times. Ross was No1. The first girl I ever met who asked for a drink that was not half a bitter in the Tudor Rose. They lived in a flat in East Croydon. Many an evening was spent there with a glass in hand.

Only place I ever saw where the toilet was papered with the Times and a pen was on hand to fill in the crossword. I across was " a place of open mouth repose." They managed two children, Jonathan and Lulu. No2 was Joyce who Ken had worked with and who came to many of the games. No3 was Agnes with whom he been with many years.

Ken loved to Ski and two new knees enabled him to return to a sport that he loved. Some of those big tackles might have bumped him off but it was left to skiing. He will be very sadly missed.

Mick Tidy