Callum Mark
21-11 2024 15:48
wrote:
I have so many great memories of Ken in my formative years and as an adult. Ken was an important figure in my life and especially through my teenage years. Ken provided a real grounding for so many, through coaching and mentoring at Rugby. I have taken a great number of life lessons from Ken.
He always walked a balanced line between providing stern, principled direction/advice and friendly/compassionate support. He was a colossal figure around the high school, NBRFC and beyond. Ken commanded so much respect in the rugby community.
During my time in high school, he was looking to step back from his role as coach, to which Mr Jeffries organised effectively an intervention, making all 30 senior player write a letter to Ken detailing why he should stay. Ken's reaction was predictably cynical! There are so many memories of Ken on the pitch, training, nights out, bus trips. I couldn't possibly do them all justice. One of my favourite stories is as follows;
We were on tour in Ireland in 2004 with the High School. Ken was the lead for the tour but had designated the side quest of 'rub/bag man' aiding with niggles and strapping etc. One day, back in the hotel, one of the senior players (Marc Johnstone) was struggling with a back issue. Marc was summoned to the room where Ken and Brian Gannon were sharing for a massage. Cut to the next scene, Marc, a young 16 year old boy was stripped to his boxers, lying face down on the massage table, oiled up with Ken's famous tiger balm. Meanwhile Brian Gannon was sat on a chair in the same room, chatting an innocently eating a bag of wine gums. All was going well until housekeeping knocked on the door and walked into the room, only to find an extremely questionable scene unfolding in front of them. Not a word was said, Ken uncharacteristically was lost for words, he gave the lady a smile and a knowing nod and she subsequently closed the door, never to be seen again. The image of and the scene never fails to make me laugh.
Ken was an incredible figure, one that i have huge respect and admiration for. I am extremely grateful to have managed to catch up with him, all be it briefly, on his cycle before he passed away. Staying true to form, he still managed to take the piss out of me in the 5 minutes we had together. Ken, Pat, Joanna and Richard have never been too far away on my thoughts over the past month. I am so sorry for your loss. Ken you will be sorely missed.
Callum Mark
21-11 2024 15:48
wrote:
I have so many great memories of Ken in my formative years and as an adult. Ken was an important figure in my life and especially through my teenage years. Ken provided a real grounding for so many, through coaching and mentoring at Rugby. I have taken a great number of life lessons from Ken.
He always walked a balanced line between providing stern, principled direction/advice and friendly/compassionate support. He was a colossal figure around the high school, NBRFC and beyond. Ken commanded so much respect in the rugby community.
During my time in high school, he was looking to step back from his role as coach, to which Mr Jeffries organised effectively an intervention, making all 30 senior player write a letter to Ken detailing why he should stay. Ken's reaction was predictably cynical! There are so many memories of Ken on the pitch, training, nights out, bus trips. I couldn't possibly do them all justice. One of my favourite stories is as follows;
We were on tour in Ireland in 2004 with the High School. Ken was the lead for the tour but had designated the side quest of 'rub/bag man' aiding with niggles and strapping etc. One day, back in the hotel, one of the senior players (Marc Johnstone) was struggling with a back issue. Marc was summoned to the room where Ken and Brian Gannon were sharing for a massage. Cut to the next scene, Marc, a young 16 year old boy was stripped to his boxers, lying face down on the massage table, oiled up with Ken's famous tiger balm. Meanwhile Brian Gannon was sat on a chair in the same room, chatting an innocently eating a bag of wine gums. All was going well until housekeeping knocked on the door and walked into the room, only to find an extremely questionable scene unfolding in front of them. Not a word was said, Ken uncharacteristically was lost for words, he gave the lady a smile and a knowing nod and she subsequently closed the door, never to be seen again. The image of and the scene never fails to make me laugh.
Ken was an incredible figure, one that i have huge respect and admiration for. I am extremely grateful to have managed to catch up with him, all be it briefly, on his cycle before he passed away. Staying true to form, he still managed to take the piss out of me in the 5 minutes we had together. Ken, Pat, Joanna and Richard have never been too far away on my thoughts over the past month. I am so sorry for your loss. Ken you will be sorely missed.
