29-06-1950 to 08-04-2024
Written by Stephen Lyons – Forest 1964-69. With help from Harry McIver – Forest 1964-69
I first met Murray Drennan when I was only six years old. Our fathers were surgeons at H M
Stanley Hospital, St Asaph. Murray was one of two boys with whom I attended both Oriel
House School, St Asaph and Forest House, Epsom. He lost his father at an early age and I
remember his mother Poppy would drop him at our house and my father would take Murray
and my brothers and I to school together.
Anyone who remembers Murray at Epsom will know that he was a rogue, albeit a very
loveable one. He was never one to easily or wilfully follow rules. He was a mod of sorts and
kept an illegal scooter near school for unofficial outings. He could spot a Lambretta i150 at
fifty paces passing the Forest dayroom. He also had an illegal scooter at home and the two of
us would venture out to Colwyn Bay some nights, looking for amusement. Like many other
boys Murray preferred to trust his Brian Jones haircut to a barber in town rather than have it
butchered at school. One day, the barber took too long and Murray had to race back to school
with half a haircut.
As often as he could, he would pop out from school to watch a football match or to go
bowling at Tolworth. Murray was a natural sportsman, if a little on the lazy side. If there was
a ball in the game Murray would play it. He once broke a front tooth on a bouncer bowled by
Martin Danford (who, ironically, became a Dentist).
Murray made an early departure from Epsom in 1967. None of his friends are sure how or
why this happened. We think it fair to assume that he took playing the rogue a tad too far one
day. He resumed his studies at Wrexham Technical College
In 1970 Murray moved to London to start a law degree, but he quickly realised it wasn’t for
him and used his student grant to travel to India. This was the start of his love for Asia. He
returned to the UK with some quality handmade carpets to sell, and his first customer was his
vet. He then travelled to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kashmir to source more
handicrafts. He renovated a derelict cottage in the foothills of Wales, which became the base
for his business, “The Spirit of Asia”.
In the summer of 1975 Murray met Nicky, with whom he would spend the next 49 years.
They built up the business, travelling to Hong Kong, India, Thailand and Burma. Burma,
especially, was an untrodden path for international travel back then, but Murray felt drawn to
the country as his father had served there as a frontline orthopaedic surgeon during the
war. Murray and Nicky kitted out a large Mercedes truck with space for stock and sleeping
quarters and then travelled round the UK selling their wares.
In 1985 they started a family and moved to Dovaston Farm near Kinnerley, Shropshire. He
played cricket for the “Woodburners”, Knockin and Kinnerley Cricket Club, wearing his old
school cricket jumper. He would thrash friends at Table Tennis in the barn at the farm. He
played for a while for a local football team and coached his children’s football and table
tennis teams.
Murray will always be remembered by his friends and family for his openness, friendliness,
irrepressible enthusiasm and sense of humour. He was one of the best bad joke tellers you
could meet. No matter what difficulties he faced in later life, his character always shone
through. He faced his failing health with strength, fortitude and humour, leading as normal a
life as he could.
Murray was one of the kindest and most gentle souls I have had the privilege to call friend.
How we laughed!
