outside of these corporate endeavours, spurling has been involved with charitable pursuits, such as the animal health trust. he has been chairman of london marathon since 2008 and vice-president of the kennel club since 2011. he was appointed an officer of the order of the british empire in the 2000 new year honours "for charitable services". he was also appointed a knight commander of the royal victorian order in the 2012 diamond jubilee honours "for services to charity".