Two racehorses trained by Nicky Richards led a funeral procession through Greystoke in tribute to former Penrith sports star Kenny Rogerson, who ran the village’s shop and post office for more than 20 years.
Kenny, who has died, aged 90, was born in 1930, the son of Tommy and Lillian Rogerson. He was the third of nine children.
Living first at Penrith’s Drovers Lane with his grandmother, uncle, parents, sister, Muriel, and brother, Robert, the family moved to Inglewood Road in 1942.
By this time it had increased in size with Kenny’s late brothers, Olipher and Jimmy, and sisters, Mary and Audrey, while surviving siblings, Jean and Jonny, came later.
Sport played a big part in Kenny’s life. It started with playing football for Askham Villa and then moved on to rugby, where he played in the Penrith Rugby Club first team for several years.
As part of the Joe Thompson “school” of runners, Kenny competed in sprinting events at various county gatherings, including Grasmere Sports and Penrith gala.
He features in the late John Hurst’s Remember the fields where we played? book, winning the 100 yards sprint — which carried a good cash prize — at the Penrith sports.
After completing his national service, part of which was spent in Germany, Kenny worked at the Townhead Co-op, before taking up employment at Collins cash and carry at the Gillwilly industrial estate.
In 1960, Kenny married the love of his life, Eunice, who he had met at a New Years’ Eve party, and they went to live with Eunice’s mother in Musgrave Street, where son, Ian, was born in 1963 and daughter Jill followed three years later.
A move was made to Greystoke in 1972 when Kenny took over the Greystoke post office and shop where he stayed until his retirement in 1995.
Kenny was very active in the village’s community life and is remembered for rewarding junior footballers with sweets, whether they won or lost.
A close connection was also formed with the Greystoke racing yard where he formed friendships with late Gordon Richards, plus Nicky and his sister, Joey, and stable lads used to ride horses to Kenny’s shop, shout out their orders and got served while on horseback.
After retiring from the village shop, in 1995, a move was made to Berrier Road, and Kenny began working for George Lloyd at Lloyds Lifestyle, at Clickham, near Greystoke, for 10 years.
Kenny and Eunice then moved to Prince Charles’ Close, Pategill, in 2010, and lived there together until Eunice’s death, after which Kenny moved into Cold Springs in April, 2019.
Fondly remembered as always being a family man, Kenny is survived by son, Ian, daughter, Jill, son-in-law Mike Pryke, and grandchildren, Aaron and Sam.
