1. www.totnes-today.co.uk Wednesday, December 29, 2010 9
any serious injuries. It
doesn’t get any easier,
though. But while I still
enjoy it and am still up
to it, I’ll carry on. I’m
sure the lads would
soon let me know if I
couldn’t cut it any
more.’
So, what’s the secret
of Chris’s laudable long
service to Kingsbridge?
Is he a practictioner
of Bikram yoga as part
of an intensive, newfan-
gled fitness regime,
perhaps? Is a special
diet aiding his phenom-
enal physical prowess?
The reality is more
banal, however. For
Chris believes in good,
old-fashioned toil on
the training field and
attributes his unstinting
loyalty to Kingsbridge
to his undiminished
ardour for rugby.
He said: ‘I am natu-
rally quite fit and I do
the pre-season training
and keep the same rou-
tine of training at the
club twice a week on
Tuesdays and Thurs-
days for the game on
Saturday.
‘A big plus is that I
gave up smoking 25
years ago.’
He went on: ‘The
bottom line is I love
playing rugby. I feel I
can contribute to the
team by passing advice
on to the younger lads.
‘I enjoy it now as
much as I did 40 years
ago, although I am not
as energetic obviously.’
As operations man-
ager for Ocean Images,
which provides pho-
tography and video for
cruise ships, he has
often worked overseas
and fits in game time
around his work com-
mitments.
But Kingsbridge
born-and-bred Chris,
despite a spell in
London, has always
returned to his roots.
He cannot recall his
first game for the
AT the venerable age of
56, many people are
contentedly winding
down towards retire-
ment, enjoying the
quiet life and, if they’re
of a sporting persua-
sion, perhaps playing a
leisurely game of golf
now and again.
But Chris Lee, from
Kingsbridge, is no ordi-
nary 56-year-old, favo-
uring rugby boots and
the rigours of local
sport over pipe and
slippers.
This year marked his
40th anniversary as a
player for Kingsbridge,
whose A team he repre-
sents as scrum-half.
It’s an astonishing
achievement by the
man known as ‘Leo’ to
his chums and one
which firmly boots into
touch the notion that
rugby is a young man’s
game.
And, given his endu-
ring passion for the
game, and as long as
his body stays in one
piece, he says there is
no reason why his stun-
ning longevity could
yet see him don a blue-
and-white strip at the
age of 60.
Chris says he intends
to carry on playing for
the rest of the season at
least, at the end of
which he will consider
his future.
But he admits that
he’s been saying the
same thing for years
and is ‘just taking it
game by game.’
Chris said: ‘I cope
okay with the fitness
side of things. Touch
wood, I haven’t had
Kingsbridge Colts, but
his former first-team
captain Paul Warren
told the Totnes Times
that the stalwart’s first-
team debut came on
October 11, 1975.
Paul said: ‘The
young winger scored a
try in his first game and
helped secure a 34-12
victory over Plymouth-
based OPM. Victories
over Devon and Dorset
Regiment, Devon and
Cornwall Police, St
Mark and St John’s and
Okehampton followed.’
Chris says an out-
standing highlight of
his career was playing
with son Ted, 19, for
Kingsbridge A and also
Salcombe.
‘He’s a much better
player than I ever was,’
he said of the open-side
flanker, who has repre-
sented Devon at under-
18 level and is currently
playing rugby for the
Bristol University West
of England side.
As for the future,
unsurprisingly given
his staunch commit-
ment to the game, ever-
green Chris says he will
be involved in rugby in
some capacity.
He plans to develop
a burgeoning interest in
refereeing, given that
he is qualified to offici-
ate at junior matches,
and has coached youn-
gsters locally, too.
The veteran’s advan-
cing years have been
the subject of many a
light-hearted jibe from
opposition players –
and even teammates.
But it’s all good-
natured banter, says
Chris.
‘I get called ‘grand-
dad’ and ‘pops’ and so-
me people say “you’re
a grey-haired old git”,
but that’s all part of the
game.’
But, when asked to
give a more reasoned
and complimentary
assessment of Chris’
contribution to Kings-
bridge Rugby Club, key
figures associated with
the club were quick to
issue glowing eulogies.
Kingsbridge RFC
president and chair-
man, Jonathan Robin-
son, said: ‘He’s done so
much for Kingsbridge
rugby – he’s a one-off.
‘He’s an extraordi-
nary guy and I can’t
thank him enough for
what he’s done for the
club.’
Kingsbridge A XV
captain, John Baker,
said: ‘He’s a very
dependable player who
is there every week
without fail.
‘At 56, he is probably
playing some of his
best rugby in his career
– heaven knows what
he must have been like
when younger. ‘
He added: ‘He
excels at scrum-half,
Chris Lee, 56, celebrates
40 years of playing rugbyVeteran reflects on his unswerving dedication to his town team and passion for his sport
‘The bottom line is I just
love playing rugby;
I’m just taking
it game by game’
where he is certain to
keep the fly-half of the
day well stretched,
with passes to his feet,
overhead and, on the
odd occasion, to his
hands!
‘Leo is a sound play-
er who welcomes old,
young and new players
to the club with open
arms; he’s a true club
man.’
Richard Westlake,
Kingsbridge A team
manager, said: ‘Chris
puts his heart and soul
into his rugby; he is a
great guy to have
around and is an inspi-
ration to young and old
alike.
‘He has been an ever-
present in my time at
the club and, although
he worked away for
periods, the first thing
he did on returning
home was look for a
game.
‘Even an horrific
road accident 18 years
ago didn’t deter him
from playing.’
Paul Warren, mean-
while, called his former
teammate ‘a true amba-
ssador to Kingsbridge
Rugby Club’ whose
‘efforts over 30 years
have given so many
young and old players
a reason to have a go.’
He added: ‘All team
captains dread Friday
nights when players
ring in and call off, but
Chris never let my side
down.
‘He was then, and is
now, willing to play in
any position anytime
without a moan,
although the front row
did cause a few prob-
lems!’
‘He’s done so much for
local rugby – he’s a one-
off’– Jonathan Robinson,
Kingsbridge RFC club
president and chairman
‘He is certain to keep the
fly-half of the day well
stretched, with passes to
his feet, overhead and,
on the odd occasion, to
his hands!’– Kingsbridge A
captain, John Baker
Contributed
Chris Lee
by EUAN
REEDIE
Linda Mitchelmore
Chris in action for Kingsbridge A earlier this season
Contributed
Chris, bottom row, second left, when he played for Kingsbridge’s first team
Contributed
The highlight of Chris’s career was when he played with son Ted.
Chris is pictured far left, back row, with Ted in front of him