107-year-old has been following Saints for 100 years (From Daily Echo)
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107-year-old Percy went to first Saints match aged 7
2:50pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News
By Emma Streatfield, Senior Reporter
CELEBRATION: Percy Purkiss, centre, on his 107th birthday with, from left, son Ron, Lisa and Mark Stewart, and daughter-in-law Brenda.
IT’S official. Percy Purkiss has clocked up an amazing 100 years as a Saints supporter.
After going to his first match as a seven-year-old, Percy has now celebrated his 107th birthday, making him probably the club’s longest serving fan.
Although he has not been to see his beloved side since he was 99, Percy still follows the goings-on at St Mary’s thanks to the Daily Echo.
Percy was born the year of the first aeroplane flight in Europe and the opening of the first cinema.
The great-grandfather-of-three celebrated the milestone on Sunday with family at his home in Copythorne.
Percy said “being looked after well and keeping active” was his secret to long life.
However, the Saints supporter always has a glass of hock, a sweet German white wine, before he goes to bed.
Born in 1906, the youngest of 11 children, Percy was raised in Cadnam and has lived in the area all his life. He went to Copythorne School and played cricket and football for Cadnam.
He married Wilmer, from nearby Winsor, in 1930 and they were together until her death in 2006 – they had two children and rented the same house in Winsor for 72 years.
Percy, who has four grandchildren, worked for Hughes convenience store in Cadnam as a delivery worker, first on a bike then in a van, until the Second World War.
During the war, he served for five years in the Royal Army Service Corps in Egypt and Italy.
He later returned to work at Hughes, then went on to drive lorries for building firm AA Morgan and Hampshire County Council.
In retirement, he was a part-time gardener at Bartley School. Percy received a card from the Queen and a telegram from Work and Pensions minister Iain Duncan Smith, while his granddaughter Lisa Stewart made him a cake with a photograph of him on it.
Long life runs in the family – Percy’s sister Florence lived to 104.
Percy’s son Ron, 81, said: “It’s great, he’s been a good father. I’m proud of him.”
Comments(13)
999medic
says...
4:58pm Tue 22 Jan 13
SPIKEISLANDTRADER
says...
6:53pm Tue 22 Jan 13
apm1954
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7:33pm Tue 22 Jan 13
billythesaint
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8:23pm Tue 22 Jan 13
ShakeyWiffles
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8:27pm Tue 22 Jan 13
gladbachsaint
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8:33pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Lockssmart
says...
8:46pm Tue 22 Jan 13
One Heart....One Vision
says...
9:49pm Tue 22 Jan 13
weall8leedscum
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10:12pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Your banning order is up in 2 years after you ironed those 3 skates out.
Looking forward to seeing you back at the stadium.
The "Firms" not been the same without you.
On a more serious note, The man should be guest of honour in the Directors box
.
Get it sorted N.C.
Tirau Dan
says...
7:56am Wed 23 Jan 13
I'd like to join the others in hoping SFC will guest you as a VIP to a match.
I hope someone in So'ton will contact the pr dept at sms if they haven't already caught on....
Ring out a chant - Percy 100 Percy 100 Percy 100
Strasbourg Saint
says...
8:00am Wed 23 Jan 13
Tirau Dan wrote:I have to say, Dan, I totally agree. When people go on about this player or that player deserving free seats to matches, I get a bit annoyed; where does it start and where does it end?
Respect Sir! FAN -tastic
I'd like to join the others in hoping SFC will guest you as a VIP to a match.
I hope someone in So'ton will contact the pr dept at sms if they haven't already caught on....
Ring out a chant - Percy 100 Percy 100 Percy 100
Percy, however, is in a different class, and guest of honour for this fantastic achievement would be very fitting.
florida saint
says...
10:47pm Wed 23 Jan 13
warrens 76 says...
3:32pm Tue 22 Jan 13