Alexander (Alec) Spencer, who with his older brother Jack loyally served the Club in a variety of fundraising roles over many years, has died peacefully at the age of 96.
Spencer, just three months shy of his 97th birthday, was true Blue. As his son Michael said: “Carlton was everything to him”.
“I can’t tell you for sure where it all started, but Dad and Uncle Jack both grew up in Carlton because the family home was in Canning Street . . . and they were Carlton fans forever,” Michael said.
“When they grew older, Jack became a publican and moved around a bit, while Dad lived and worked in Fitzroy. He made electrical switch gear for Oliver J Nilsen Ltd, which owned radio station 3UZ, and he worked his way up to production supervisor.”
Jack’s involvement with Carlton can be sourced to the late 1950s and Brian recalled him later joining the newly-formed Carlton Football Club Social Committee – at the time the Club completed the stunning recruiting coup of Ron Barassi as captain-coach on the eve of the 1965 season. The committee comprised 16 members headed by the 1947 Brownlow Medallist Bert Deacon and oversaw the running of many and varied club functions, from dinner dances to pleasant Sunday mornings.
“Jack and my aunt (Joyce) were great fundraisers for the Club, and for years took care of the matchday raffles. Dad joined them not long after and when my uncle and aunt were killed in a car crash in West Brunswick, Alec took over.”
In 1986, Jack was honoured with Life Membership. When news was conveyed in the club’s annual report, the unnamed correspondent noted: “It would be impossible to calculate how much Mr Spencer and his loyal group of workers have raised for the club through many years”.
Just as Jack was honoured, so too was Alec honoured with Life Membership in 2005, again for years of selfless contribution. For the kid from neighbouring Canning Street, this was the pinnacle. As Michael recalled: “One of the greatest thrills of Dad’s life was to become a Life Member”.
In later years, Alec and his cohorts Frank Smith and Peter Sheedy completed many and varied tasks for the club’s merchandise department out of the old Carlton Shop to the rear of the Gardiner Stand. That shop carried Jack Spencer’s name in white letters on dark navy.
Alec Spencer was a true Blue. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
Though Alec’s time at Carlton ended with the redevelopment of the Princes Park elite training facility, Michael spoke for all family members when he expressed gratitude to the Club “for keeping Dad going for so long”.
Alec Spencer, whose wife Mary predeceased him 2004, is survived by his children John, Michael and Vicki, granddaughter and three great grandchildren.
His funeral will be held at Ern Jensen Funerals, corner of Bruce and Mary Streets, Preston on Thursday (March 16, 2017) commencing at 11:15 am followed by a private cremation.
Carlton players will wear black armbands in tribute to Alec’s memory when they take to the field for the 2017 season opener with Richmond at the MCG.
More By Tony De Bolfo, Carlton Media