League legend Ashton passes away

Vale ... Rugby league legend and World War II hero Ferris Ashton passes away. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

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.

Tough ... Ferris in action. Source: News Limited

"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.

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."

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