Stratford Rugby Club became Ken Holley’s sporting passion for 50 years
KENNETH John Holley was born in 1934 at Southampton to Joseph and Connie; Joseph was a chief steward in the Merchant Navy. A colleague of Joseph suggested that he should go and see the new girl in the corner shop near the docks at Southampton and that was how they met. They married in 1932 and Ken was the first born; he also had two younger sisters, Katy and Vicki.
Ken’s early years were spent living with his mother because his father was usually working away at sea, more so during the Second World War when Ken was evacuated firstly to Bournemouth and then Falmouth.
Later during the war he was also evacuated to the west coast of Scotland where his father’s ship was briefly stationed. Ken often recounted that he was taught to play the bagpipes whilst going to school in Dunoon - but thankfully there’s no audio evidence of that.
Ken was educated at the King Edward VI Grammar School in Southampton; coincidentally his son Richard went to the King Edward VI School in Stratford.
Whilst at school, Ken spent several sailing holidays in Norfolk run by his local GP, who guided Ken towards a medical career. He subsequently won a scholarship place to attend medical school at St Mary’s Paddington and whilst he was studying there, he met Joan, who was a nurse at the same hospital.
Apparently they first met on the hockey pitch playing mixed hockey - nurses versus student doctors; Ken trying to be the gentleman was taking it easy on the gentler sex - until a hockey stick was wrapped around his legs and he was brought to the ground - and he met Joan for the first time! They were married in September 1959 at Merton in South West London.
After qualifying as a doctor, Ken worked firstly in Exeter and then in London at St George’s Hospital as a houseman; at that point the family were living in Sutton in South West London.
Then in November 1970 Ken was appointed to the role of consultant pathologist at Warwick Hospital and the family moved to live in Tiddington just outside Stratford. He remained working at Warwick until his retirement many years later.
Ken and Joan were blessed with three children - Andy, Richard and Clare. Andy joined the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot and flying Instructor, Richard works as an executive in IT, and Clare followed her mother’s example and became a nurse; both Richard and Clare went to grammar schools in Stratford. The family continues to grow, with nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Outside of work, Ken developed a keen interest in motor racing, given that the Goodwood circuit is close to Southampton. Later he became a medical officer at Brands Hatch and then the chief medical officer at Mallory Park and Silverstone, also working at several Grands Prix. Eventually though, as the boys got older and started to play mini rugby, rugby took over as Ken’s passion.
He was involved with Stratford Rugby Club for nearly fifty years, rising to the role of club president - a role he retained for over twenty five years.
A very social individual, Ken loved to spend time at his club, either playing or watching rugby, or boosting the bar profits. So, in another sporting environment, once again, Ken’s medical expertise proved very useful, whenever a player became injured, mid-game, Ken would come out running to assist - even if he was playing on an adjacent pitch.
It has been suggested however, that if Ken was to say that there was nothing to worry about, then really that player probably needed to take himself off to casualty; whilst, if Ken diagnosed a break, then things were likely to be okay.
Ken’s children fondly remember the house sometimes becoming a sort of field hospital with people constantly turning up with cuts and bruises - and even a dislocated shoulder on one occasion, which Ken was happy to put right (without anaesthetic).
In later years, having moved to Wellesbourne, Ken regained an interest in Southampton FC, the club his father had supported, but by this time, following a series of operations, Ken started to struggle with his health.
Very sadly Ken passed away on the 11th January having lived a long life full of adventure and experiences, and he will be very deeply missed by his friends and family.
