Roger Spong
Encyclopedia
Roger Spong was a rugby union international who represented England
from 1929 to 1932.
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.
James and his wife Frances Elizabeth Scott had a number of children, the eldest of whom was Roger's father, James William, (born in 1868). Like his father, James William was educated at Mill Hill School
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.
Roger was educated, like his father and grandfather, at Mill Hill School.
In 1955 Roger'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.
vs England
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 in the Wales
vs England
match.
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
from 1929 to 1932.
Early life
Roger Spong was born on 23 October 1906 in BarnetBarnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
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.
James and his wife Frances Elizabeth Scott had a number of children, the eldest of whom was Roger's father, James William, (born in 1868). Like his father, James William was educated at Mill Hill School
Mill Hill School
Mill Hill School, in Mill Hill, London, is a coeducational independent school for boarding and day pupils aged 13–18. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, an organisation of public schools in the United Kingdom....
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.
Roger was educated, like his father and grandfather, at Mill Hill School.
Career
In 1935, Roger 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 Roger'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.
Rugby union career
Spong made his international debut on 1 April 1929 at Colombes in the FranceFrance national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
vs England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
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 in the Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
vs England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
match.