Roger Loveland

It is with great sadness that we have to report that Roger Loveland died at his home on Tuesday, February 19, He was 67. For half a century Roger was indelibly linked with the OCHC among Cranleighans and opponents and was a much-loved figure.

Roger’s popularity stemmed from the way he played the game. Skillful – even when in his sixties he shamed players a third of his age with his touch, not to mention availability - he never lost his temper with opponents or umpires, and was renowned for playing unquestionably by the rules. Off the field he was a gentleman through and through with a wicked sense of humour who encouraged generations of Cranleigh hockey players.

"The OC club of today owes a huge debt of gratitude to Roger and would not be on such a secure footing as is currently the case without the effort and support put in by him over the last 50 years,” wrote club captain David Knapp in a tribute on his blog. “Sadly the club never made him aware of their gratitude in a formal way, but knowing Roger who did not crave for any recognition he would not have expected any such attention doing what he did out of the kindness of his heart."

Chris Burton, the long-serving umpire and administrator, said: "I will remember Roger as always being the perfect gentleman in every sense of the word. He had a wicked sense of humour, played the game hard but was always the first person to shake the umpires' hands and buy them a drink. Along with his brother Tony, he was one of the old stalwarts of the OCs."

Roger first turned out for the club in 1957, a year before he left Cranleigh, and played every season through to the end of 2005-06.

The funeral is on Friday, February 29 at St Mary's Caterham-on-the-Hill at 3pm and it follows a family-only cremation.