Roger Spong (23 October 1906 – 27 March 1980) was a rugby union international who represented

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

from 1929 to 1932.Roger Spong Profile on scrum.com
/ref>

Early life

Roger Spong was born on 23 October 1906 in

Barnet Barnet may refer to: People *Barnet (surname) *Barnet (given name) Places United Kingdom *Chipping Barnet or High Barnet, commonly known as Barnet, one of three focal towns of the borough below. *East Barnet, a district of the borough below; anc ...

into the family that had founded and ran Spong and Co. Spong and Co had been founded by Roger's grandfather, James Osborn Spong (born in 1839 in Yardley Hastings, Northampton) the eldest son, and one of six children of, James Spong, originally of Kent, a minister, and his wife, Elizabeth Osborn. In 1856, when he was just 16, James Osborn founded Spong and Co, a company manufacturing hardware and wirework, making economic household utensils, or as they were then called, 'domestic machinery'. The company became a household name and in 1882 was boasting sales of 200,000 mincers as well as being able to advertise that their mincing machine was owned by 'Her Most Gracious Queen Victoria', the Admiralty and the War Office, and could be found in the mansions of the nobility, the mess-rooms of the army and navy at home and abroad, also in the universities, colleges and many other great institutions of England.Graces Guide – Spong and Co
/ref> James and his wife Frances Elizabeth Scott had a number of children, including

suffragette A suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. The term refers in particular to members ...

s Dora Spong and her sisters. The eldest Spong child was Roger's father, James William, (born in 1868). Like his father, James William was educated at

Mill Hill School Mill Hill School is a 13–18 co-educational Private schools in the United Kingdom, private, Day school, day and boarding school in Mill Hill, London, England that was established in 1807. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' ...

and in 1902 he joined his father's company. Shortly after joining the company, James William married Alice Spencer and they had Donald William in 1904 and Roger Spencer in 1906.

Career

In 1935, Spong became a director of Spong and Co, following his brother who had become a director in 1932. Donald and Roger becoming joint managing directors in 1944, with the company still a leader in the production of kitchen utensils such as, mincers, slicers, shredders, graters, coffee mills, baking tins and various metallic and plastic scourers. In 1955 Spong's son, Christopher, had joined the company. In 1960 Spong and Co became a Public Company, and in 1962 had moved to Crompton Close, Basildon, Essex. Christopher saw the company through a number of changes including the 1980 sell off of the hardware section of the company to Salter Housewares Ltd, and the change of name of Spong Holdings plc, to Lion Heart plc and then to Brit Nit which itself was eventually sold to Cafetiere Household Articles. Christopher's sons, Nicholas and Simon Spong also went to Mill Hill School and excelled at sport, especially rugby. They both now have successful careers but outside sport.

Rugby union career

Spong made his international debut on 1 April 1929 at

Colombes Colombes () is a Communes of France, commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France, from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris. In 2019, Colombes was the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 53rd largest city in France. ...

in the

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

match. Of the 13 matches he played for his national side he was on the winning side on 4 occasions. He played his final match for England on 16 January 1932 at

St Helen's, Swansea St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground, commonly known simply as St Helens Ground, is a sports venue in Swansea, Wales, owned and operated by the City and County of Swansea Council. Used mainly for rugby union and cricket, it has been the home groun ...

in the

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

match.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spong, Roger 1906 births 1980 deaths British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England England international rugby union players English rugby union players Middlesex County RFU players People educated at Mill Hill School Rugby union fly-halves Rugby union players from the London Borough of Barnet 20th-century English sportsmen