Tribute paid to an 'all round good bloke'
A true son of Wairarapa whose strength on the rugby field and in the face of adversity became the stuff of legend was farewelled in Masterton Town Hall yesterday.
Ian Turley, 69 - known throughout the rugby fraternity by his nickname Turts - died last Monday, 19 years after having lung transplant operations as a result of contracting the rare disease anti-trypsin deficiency.
At his funeral service family and friends spoke of a man who was a tower of strength, loyal and tough. A man who would not back down on the field but who, off it, was a caring family man, a special grandfather and an excellent sheep and beef farmer.
Mr Turley was a specialist lock who was a staunch Red Star Club player. He represented Wairarapa-Bush on 147 occasions, was a junior All Black and was several times an All Black triallist. Although he is written into rugby folklore as the man who dished out a lesson to British Lions lock Nigel Horton, who had transgressed repeatedly during the 1977 Lions match against Wairarapa-Bush, Ian Turley was a man who played hard but clean.
