Ricky Strange 1942-2021

Canterbury Rugby is sad to announce the death of Ricky Strange, who died on 2 September 2021 aged 78. Ricky was born in the northeast but the family moved to Canterbury in 1947. His father, Derrick (Frederick) St Clair Strange, was the senior orthopaedic surgeon at Kent and Canterbury Hospital and dealt with many rugby injuries – when the club started its ‘Broken Bones’ club in the late 1960s, Derrick was an honorary member.

Educated at Stowe School, Ricky was a tough, nuggety scrum half and was promoted to the Canterbury 1st XV when he was only 17. He loved his rugby but at 21 left Canterbury for New York to train in photography and became a leading travel photographer.

He married Mary in 1972 and set up home in Sturry, with children Will, Pete and Lucy although he continued to wander the world, building up an enviable photographic library. His interests changed to antiques and, in his later years, this became an absorbing pursuit for Mary and himself.

He was elected vice president of the club in 1979. The club extends our condolences to his family and friends.

(Our thanks to Tony Girling )