STUART TURPIE R.I.P. (1947 – 2015).

It with much sadness that the Club has learned of the death of Stu Turpie.

Stu was one of the best and most well respected basketball players in the

early days of the National Basketball League during the 1970s and 1980s.

During his early basketball career he represented both England and Great

Britain. Many players (and referees) got to know him as the “gruff, rather

serious old player with sharp elbows”.  But he also had a whimsical sense of

humour that belied his often stern appearance.  Despite a lacklustre

vertical jump, Stu was a tremendous rebounder and his world famous rolling

hook shot was a sight to behold. He didn’t suffer fools gladly and many

referees tended to fall into that category! Stu remains high on the list of

top scorers in UK basketball – for example, at the start of 1980/81 season

he was 8th in the all-time scorer lists with 112 games played, 72.3% from

the free throw line and a 15.1 points per game average.

Not only did he play to a very high standard for that time, but he also

carried on playing and coaching well in to his fifties with local leagues

and Greenwich Basketball Club in particular. He played for London Latvian SK

(LLSK) / Embassy All Stars / Embassy Milton Keynes until their sad demise in

1979.  Stu won 34 International caps playing for England, and Great Britain

under Coach Miles Aiken, in their attempt to qualify for the 1976 Olympics.

He played in Division 2 and Division 1 of the NBL for Brighton Basketball

Club with his teaching colleague and fellow player, Brendan McCarthy.

During the 1979/80 season he was joint winner of the Division Two All Star

Award with Robin Farris of Panasonic Plymouth.  Stu never did learn to

drive, and Brendan spent many hours driving them both, from homes in South

East London, up and down the M23 several times a week to Brighton for

practice and games. Guildford, Worthing & Bracknell Basketball Clubs were

also fortunate enough to have him on their team. He was a founding member of

Greenwich Basketball Club, and as their first player/coach, led them to

victory in the Founders Cup during the 1987/88 season. He was a tough

opponent but always fair and appreciative if on the losing side.  His

players obviously adored him and would go through a wall on his behalf.

Stu was born in December 1947 in Bexleyheath, Kent, growing up in

Lancashire and later moving with his parents to Sevenoaks in Kent. His love

of basketball and sport in general was obvious to all who knew him. This may

well have originated from his time at Warwick University during the late

1960’s, where he read History, and spent a year in the USA at Wisconsin (Go

Badgers). As a result he always had a keen interest in US college teams.

After his degree he trained to be a teacher at Liverpool University in 1971.

Most of his career was spent at Thomas Tallis School in South London,

teaching Geography, with some History and Religious Studies, reaching the

position of Senior Teacher – nowadays known as Assistant Head.

Stu’s wife, Carole also taught, and after retiring from the profession,

they moved from Eltham, South East London, to Florensac in the South of

France. Stu really loved living in France and took on the job of sports

writer for the local Herault Times, principally writing for the ex. pat's

living in the area. He also became an expert on Rugby league, never missing

a game on TV and travelling around southern France to see any live games

that he could. He played (quite seriously) in the local Petanque leagues ...

conversing and cursing, good style, in French with the locals!

Stu died in his home on Jan 25th 2015, after a long battle with Prostate

Cancer. He is survived by his wife, and their three children: Tom, Alex &

Anna – all teachers!

Stu’s contribution to the game lives on – in those of us who were

fortunate enough to have been elbowed, cajoled and growled at by him and

taught, coached and counselled by him. He was, above all, a character –

dedicated, loyal, talented, opinionated, generous with his time, a man of

few words, and in his own quiet, unassuming way, a bit of a legend! He will

be sorely missed, and our condolences are very much with his family.

--end—