George Martin Harrop

OT848 - Tulk

19-02-2025
Today we received the email below about George Martin Harrop known as "Martin" who died on Sunday 16 February 2025:

17-03-2025 - Dan Spong added -:
I knew Martin for as long as I remember going to the rugby club as a young boy in the 70s. He was a great player and a lovely man with a laid back air and dry wit. His death came as a shock to many as I am sure it did to you, as he always seemed so young and was still very fit and active.  His funeral is to be held at Guildford Crematorium at 11.15 on Friday 28th March. There will be a reception at Cranleigh Golf Club afterwards to which all are welcome. Their address is 36, Summerlands, Cranleigh. GU6 7BP, should you with to send a card to Julia and the family. Very best regards, Dan Spong.

Dear Secretary
I am sad to report the sudden shock death of a lovely man, Ottershaw old boy Martin Harrop on last Sunday. I was a few years below him in Tulk House in the 60s and for many years he has lived nearly opposite me in Cranleigh. This is not an official notification but please check Cranleigh Rugby Club on Facebook who have announced the shock news, confirmed to me by a neighbour. Martin was a great sportsman at Ottershaw and excelled at everything he tackled going on to other sporting achievements. He took no part whatsoever in the widespread Tulk House bullying of new boys in the mid 60s era and did his talking on the football, rugby, cricket pitch and tennis court where I believe he was winning the tennis championship against older guys many years before he was in the sixth form. He taught me to head a ball properly when we played in the sumner evenings at the back of Tulk, using the two Scots Pine trees as goal posts. This paid off when I headed the winner away at Eton for the second XI on the day another 16 year old scored 4 on his debut, I think, for Birmingham City.
I was privileged to lend him my Gola boots when North House’s Dunc Hill, Jimmy’s son, got his dad to bring his chums including the great Johnnie Haynes, Johnnie Byrne, Jimmy and maybe Dave Sexton, one Sunday afternoon. 5-5 I recall.
We came back from church on Sunday and wondered why police and ambulance were present near Martin’s home, not realising such sad news had happened.
I’ll pass further news on as received.

With best wishes, Robin Stride OT989 Tulk

 

 

More about Martin can be found on the Cranleigh Rugby Club Facebook page.