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Twin brothers Miles and Thane Prance arrived together with me at Lancing and Second’s House in September 1954, so my friendship with Thane in particular was a very long one. Thane was always thought to be the cleverer of the two – particularly at languages - but surprisingly chose not to go to university. Instead, after a short spell with builders Higgs and Hill, he set off as a ‘Five-pound-Pom’ to Australia.
He worked initially on the production line at Ford in Melbourne – but afterwards and for the majority of his working life in the Roads Department of Victoria. This was an administrative/audit role which required him to travel widely across the state and one which he enjoyed.
I visited him twice in Australia – rather appropriately for a Reigate boy in the Surrey Hills suburb of Melbourne. By then he had retired from the Roads job and was making a successful living trading on the Melbourne Stock Exchange. He made me very welcome and we spent many hours reminiscing about our time in Second’s.
Towards the end, his memory failed quite quickly. He was lucky enough to have the support of local friends who saw him into the Blue Cross Home at Box Hill, Melbourne, where he died peacefully at the end of June 2022.
Brother Miles and sister Hazel predeceased him. Thane never married. The photograph was taken at his front door in April 2013.
Angus Ross
Second’s 1954–59