RIP Ferris Ashton

[Fairfax]

NOEL Kelly was at home this afternoon when news came through that Ferris Ashton had passed away.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226564554727

A decent bloke and a proud Roosters. Vale Ferdie!

[Red.]

RIP Ferris Ashton

Rugby league legend Ferris Ashton passes away
Paul Crawley
The Daily Telegraph
January 29, 2013 8:13PM

552626-ferris-ashton.jpg
Former 1950's Roosters RL player and WWII veteran Ferris Ashton at Sydney Roosters headquarters. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph

NOEL Kelly was at home this afternoon when news came through that Ferris Ashton had passed away.

Ned is from the old school, rugby league's hooker of the century and as tough as any man who ever laced on a boot.

But when he started remembering the life and times of of his old mate 'Ferdie', Ned couldn't hide the emotion. "Oh, Jesus," Kelly said. "Ferdie was one of those blokes you just thought was going to be around forever.

"And you just had to like. You talk about celebrating people's lives. Yeah, it is sad but his life needs to be celebrated because he was so popular everywhere he went and he crammed so much in."

Born in Darlinghurst in 1926, he served in the Navy during World War II and after returning played 84 games for the Eastern Suburbs from 1950-1956.

He also captained Easts and was captain-coach in 1954 as well as representing NSW and Australia.

But there was even more to his story.

A middleweight boxing champion in the navy, he was also an outstanding cricketer, good enough to score a first grade century for Waverley in a game against St George in 1953.

But rugby league was his game.

MOSSOP, ASHTON AND KELLY
553989-mossop-ashton-and-kelly.jpg
Former Channel Seven Controversy Corner combatants (L to R) Rex Mossop, Ferris Ashton and Noel Kelly. Picture: Sandra Priestley Source:

In the book From Where The Sun Rises, 100 years of the Sydney Roosters, there is a tribute to Ashton that tells of his remarkable achievements and his time touring with the Kangaroos in 1952.

"We left on July 18, 1952 and got home on March 2, 1953," Ashton said in the book. "I went away as a father of an eight month old baby and he was 16 months when we got back."

And they reckon end-of-season tours these days go too long.

Ashton also toured with Australia to New Zealand in 1953, winning his place despite a dislocated collarbone.

And then there were the days on Rex Mossop's Controversy Corner where Ashton and Kelly took it in turns winding up the Moose.

"We used to give poor old Rex a turn but it was always in good fun, he used to give us some too" Kelly laughed.

His grandson Sam Atkinson added: "He ran the show, he was the boss, but he was definitely well loved and he will be sorely missed."

For over 60 years, Atkinson said, Ashton lived with his wife Patricia at 87 Allambie Rd, Allambie Heights.
Not far from Ned who is still over at Collaroy.

"But the last year or so Alzheimers kicked in and after that his health started to fail him," Atkinson added.

So the family moved him up to be with them in Port Macquarie before he passed away in hospital yesterday afternoon.

He is survived by wife Patricia, a former Miss Bondi, four children, seven grand children, four great grand children and some old mates.

Like Noel Kelly who added this:

"He was a great man and it is nice to have known him, Ferdie.

"You know, he would make you proud when he turned up each year for the Anzac Day game between St George and Easts.

"He was a real hero."

[Guest]

RIP to a great Australian,great man,Ferris was a rooster through and through,he will be sorely missed!

[Spirit of 66]

A very sad day. I will miss his appearances at the Anzac Day matches.

I will also always remember his appearances on Channel 7's Controversy Corner with Rex Mossop, Rupert Mudge, Alan Clarkson and Col Pearce. He was always a fiercely loyal Roosters man and would never put up with Rex's Manly bias.

[Guest]

R.I.P. One of the best.

[Horry]

RIP Ferris

[ROC181]

I have never been the type to say RIP but I am quite saddened by this news.

[horrie hastings]

That is truly sad news, RIP Ferris, you were a true Rooster.

[Guest]

Vale Ferris..

You were a great Rooster..

I remember one of the prizes on Rex's show was a coupon to Ferris Ashton's Viking Sauna..

As well as Meapro ham & Patra OJ..

He will be missed..

[Jan]

Sad day, for the Roosters. He will be missed.

[roosterproud]

FOR THOSE WHO NEED REFRESHING ON HIS PAST

ĊFerris Ashton (born 21 August 1926 in Sydney, New South Wales), was an Australian rugby league footballer[1] who represented his country in 8 test matches. Ferris was also a member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during the Second World War.

Ashton began his rugby league career playing with the Bondi United club at a junior level. In 1950 the burly forward began his senior career with Eastern Suburbs. A loyal clubman, Ashton played 87 matches for Easts in the years (1950–56),[2] captaining the side in many of those years and has now been made a life member of that club.

In 1951 he played for NSW before gaining selection for Australia the following year in the series against New Zealand. Ashton made a stunning debut giving the final pass for three tries. At years end he was selected for the 1952/53 Kangaroo Tour, on tour he played in twenty-two matches including five tests. His final test appearance was in 1953 when he was Australias sole try scorer in the side that was defeated by New Zealand.

During the Second World War, Ferris served on board the destroyer HMAS Quickmatch and served with the British Fleet in the Pacific Ocean.[1] Ferris was also a very good boxer, taught by Major Francis O'Connor, having been undefeated in 19 amateur fights. He beat the best of the U.S. Navy when in Tokyo Harbour after the surrender. After the war, Ferris was on leave getting ready to go back to Japan when he slipped down some stairs breaking he knee.[1] He met Patty Brennan, Miss Bondi 1946, and later married in 1950. In July '52 he was selected for the Kangaroo tour[1] and spent the next 8 months in England and France. The boat took 6 weeks to get there and 7 to get back. Ferris made the test team to tour N.Z. in 1953 and played his last test. He never played for his country again.

Ferris met Patty Brennan, Miss Bondi, in 1946 and married in 1950, Michael was born in 1951. Michelle was born in 1954, Kelly in 1955 and Greg in 1957.

In 1953 the American All Stars toured Australia with Ferris partnering Jack Gibson in the second-row for NSW. He Captain-coached the Roosters in 1954 and finishing his career in 57 when taking a job offer as safety manager for the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Ferris moved his family back to Sydney in 1962 settling on the Northern Beaches at Allambie Heights where he still resides.

A former first grade cricketer with Waverley, Ashton was a wicketkeeper/batsman with 106 not out his highest score. He was a regular on the rugby league television program 'Controversy Corner' with Rex Mossop, Alan Clarkson, Col Pearce and Noel Kelly discussing pertinent Rugby League matters. The show ran for 19 years.


"From early days i was the keenest of [Eastern Suburbs] fans. Many, many times I sat on the hill at the sports ground and SCG and watched Easts in their red, white and blue. When I look back now I'm very, very proud of the fact that I never played with another club. They were my club."

- Ferris Ashton.

On 24 October 2000, Ashton was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his rugby league achievements.[3]

Ferris passed away on the 28th of January 2013.

[roosterproud]

They were my club.....nice quote ferris.rip old mate

[davos]

That is terrible news. I didn't have the pleasure of watching him play but there were some older easts fans I knew who told me that he was an absolute legend of our club.

May his soul rest in Peace.

[Hawkeye]

It feels like when a country's monarch passes away, he truly was Rooster royalty.

It will be even sadder day at the Anzac Day game this year, not seeing Ferdie at the pre game ceremony !

A true Rooster, and red white and blue through and through.

[Guest]

Very sad news..... Got to know Ferris at Harbord Diggers Club when I was compering the promotions there. He would be there with his lovely wife Patricia. He and I were the only 2 Roosters in the the place!! In 2002, and on our way to the Grand Final, we were both there giving it to the Manly fans who hated the Roosters.....He told me some great stories about the good old days that I will cherish forever...... Always had time for a chat and a story..... Lovely man and lovely family.