Tributes to Former Players and Officials. (H-J)
Extracts from Eton Fives Annual Reports.
J H Hale - Etonian
J H Hale was elected to the EFA Committee at its first meeting after the war in 1947.
J. S. O. Haslewood, MC - Salopian (EFA Report 1999-2000)
J.S.O.Haslewood reached the final of the first Public Schools' Competition with D. N. Moore in 1929 and represented Oxford at both Eton and Rugby Fives as well as cricket, golf, lawn tennis and soccer, of which he was captain. He served on the MCC Committee and was a close sporting friend of fellow Salopian, the late A. T. Barber, former President of the EFA.
H P Hawken - Citizen (EFA Report 1998-1999)
One of the last links of the Old Citizens Fives Club from the post-war period has been lost with the passing of a past Chairman, Henry Hawken, known to some as Philip, but known to all his sporting friends as 'Floater'. This was a term of endearment from his ability to float the ball when bowling at cricket, one of the games he loved and did well at. He played cricket for the Old Citizens making the Ist XI and he took several wickets. He was no mean batsman and was in fact a good all rounder. He was particularly proud to be elected a member of the MCC. But the game which was his passion was Fives, at which he played for the Old Citizens in the first pair for many years. He was also instrumental in putting the Old Citizens Fives Club on the map after the war. He took on the Secretaryship when no-one else would and developed a long fixture list which included weekend tours to distant schools.
One of his life-long friends in Fives was fellow Old Citizen, B J Garrett, who always had the latest Jaguar in which to do the long distance trips and, in particular, the legendary annual one to Zuoz College, Switzerland. It was always recognised that Floater sat in the front as the navigator, a job at which he certainly showed some originality - if only in folding the maps. They were invited one year to play Fives at Prince Fugger's castle in Germany. When they got lost and asked a police motorcyclist for directions they had a police escort for the rest of the journey - 'Floater' was never sure if this was to their credit or not. Their other encounter with the police was when four of them were stopped one Saturday morning on the way to Charterhouse as four men in a Jaguar had just carried out a bank raid.
It was 'Floater's' character to be quiet, modest and unassuming and to some he may have come across as being casual and indifferent, but this masked a keen sense of protocol - he was always anxious that the Old Citizens gave a good account of themselves both on and off court, In his time as secretary he would sometimes count himself out of a match but still turn up in case anyone failed to appear. On the weekend tours and at the time of the annual Old Citizen Fives dinners in the 60s and 70s he was tremendous fun and of immense value socially. He also served for many years on the Old Citizens Sports Committee and was the first Old Citizen to be elected a member of The Jesters.
His career was in banking, finance and property and whereas he may have seemed laid back he was in fact very astute. In this respect and with his philosophical approach as an observer of life, it led to many of the younger generation confiding in him as a father figure. If there were situations of internal politics he would steer clear and come out with one of his familiar phrases - 'let them get on with it, old boy'.
'Floater' had a distinguished military career with the Royal Fusiliers in which he served three and a half years in India, a country which fascinated him. He became a Captain at twenty-six and rose to Major. He was one of the founders of the Reunion Association arranging dinners and he became their President in due course.
Some ten years ago it was necessary to have a leg amputated, but he faced this disability with fortitude and without the slightest rancour. He was accepted at the Royal Star and Garter Home, Richmond, where he played an active part, especially in the welfare of others less fortunate and he oversaw the induction of new residents. He always paid tribute to those who cared for him at the Royal Star and Garter and latterly Lynde House, Twickenham.
The last few weeks for'Floater' after the amputation of his other leg were extremely sad, but let us remember him as he would wish - a loyal, compassionate friend with a marvellous sense of humour and that infectious laugh. Those who knew him felt privileged and the Fives world and especially the Old Citizens have been enriched by him.
Our condolences go to his family, particularly to his brother, Tony and nephew, Malcolm, both fellow Old Citizens. (G.D.S.)
Lord Hazlerigg, MC (1910-2003) - Etonian
A founding member of the Jesters Club. It was Arthur Hazlerigg who introduced Eton Fives to the Club declaring it to be the best game ever invented.S.J.Hogben, CBE., - Cholmeleian (EFA Report 1970-1971)
During the past year the death of an eminent administrator of the game has been announced: S.J.Hogben introduced Eton Fives to Northern Nigeria in 1922 by building two mud courts at Birnin Kebbi while teaching at the local Provincial School.Lord Holme of the Hirsel KT., PC.,/Patron of the EFA - Etonian (EFA Report 1995-1996)
Alec Home, who died last year, was a man who earned the greatest respect not only at home but also in the international field, and it was the Association's good fortune that for all his wide-ranging and important commitments he undertook so willingly and fulfilled so admirably the office first of President and latterly of Patron of the Association.
No-one was more suitably qualified to be at the helm of a sport he loved. Alec Home was a very fine games player and country sportsman himself, and nothing he enjoyed so much as to be present, be it as participant or spectator, at some sporting pursuit close to his heart. Many know of his prowess as a cricketer - indeed, he was President of the MCC; few will know that he was a boy at Ludgrove, at New Barnet in those days, and that at Eton, after two victories against Harrow, he won the School Fives in 1922 - his son was also a good player.
Alec was generous of his time and took a lively interest in all aspects of EFA business, but it was, perhaps, his involvement in the finalising of the tour to Nigeria in 1965 for which the Association is most grateful. At a time when the details were being arranged, his enthusiasm and inspired intervention cleared away all obstacles and delays, and the Commonwealth Relations Office took up the cause with alacrity.
Eton Fives over a long period warranted a place in Alec's diary. He attended Committee meetings from time to time: he was generous with his time when consulted. He was ever ready to help with an appeal, and it came as no surprise that he was pleased to be Guest of Honour at the Jesters Annual Dinner in 1963 and at the Centenary Fives Dinner at Harrow in 1985 to commemorate the first recorded match against Eton. No-one present on either occasion could have failed to enjoy and be moved by the wise, witty and winning observations of a speaker in whom there was always an infectious sense of fun.
So, too, no-one present could possibly forget the Memorial Service at which representatives of the Crown, the State, the Commonwealth and nations outside the Commonwealth, and more than two thousand friends from all walks of life, including many from games he so dearly cherished, gathered to pay their respects to and show their love for a man who had done so much in the service of others.
His service to Eton Fives was that of a truly great friend and supporter, one who will be remembered with gratitude by those who had the privilege to know him well, by those who met him but once or twice, and by those who learned from others of his integrity, generosity and goodness. (D.J.S.G.)
F.B.Hooper - Westminster (EFA Report 1992-1993)
Francis Barrington Hooper was born in December 1912, and died of cancer in August 1993.Frank, as he was universally known, was educated at Westminster School, and went straight from school into the family firm, the Argus Press. During the war he served in the Intelligence Corps, and then returned to the world of publishing and printing magazines. He became Managing Director of the Argus Press in 1962, and remained in that position until his retirement in 1974.
Frank's life centred round his family work. Close rival to both of these, however, was his life-long interest in all sports, and in particular his enjoyment of Eton Fives, learned at school and played thereafter until close to his seventieth birthday. Tennis - real not lawn - also figured, with Frank continuing to play for a while even after he had given up Fives.
Both before the war and for many years afterwards, Frank was a regular member of the Old Westminster Fives teams, and a familiar figure on all the schools' courts where we used to play. Well built, but somewhat un-athletic in his movements, Frank was not a first class player. He was a good club player, but more importantly he was one of those without whom all sports would be the poorer. His enthusiasm was not dimmed by being unable to reach the heights - he simply enjoyed the game, played with all his heart, and was no more affected by winning rather than losing, so long as it had been a good game, played to the best of his ability and with proper sportsmanship.
Frank was not one to take without also giving, and he repaid his pleasure in the game by long service to the Eton Fives Association, and to the School where he learned the game.
At Westminster, he served on the committee of the Elizabethan Club (the Old Boys Club), and was a very active Chairman from 1975 to 1979. He was also a member of the Council of the Westminster School Society for many years.
The President of the Eton Fives Association writes:
"I first met Frank when I was a sixteen year old schoolboy in need of cricket during the holidays and he was
captaining the third XI of Harrow Town C.C. His bluff demeanour and bellicose appearance, coupled with a positive
enthusiasm for the game and a scrupulous fairness in ensuring that everyone had full opportunity to play his part,
made us all keen, eager and anxious to obey our captain's commands with alacrity; the success that followed gave
us a lasting pride in our achievement and him a great feeling of satisfaction. Ten years later I was trying to
get Fives going at Ipswich, and I needed some players to encourage the boys: naturally I turned to Frank, and he found
three altruistic companions to travel up with him to give some very inexperienced and inept players the best game they
had ever had. Fifteen years after that a demonstration-cum-coaching session was needed at High Wycombe, and again Frank
volunteered for duty and drove us over and back.
His ability to command first respect and then admiration and friendship was a great asset when dealing with the young, but when linked with his vigorous promotion of those causes that were dear to him he became almost irresistable to every age group: Orley Farm School went from strength to strength under his governship, and it was thanks to his positive and energetic efforts that Harrow School were induced to allow those prep school boys regularly to use their courts.
As Chairman of the Committee he displayed the same ebullience and perception, and many of the innovations in the practices of the Committee were inspired by him. I am glad that our last meeting was a happy occasion: we had gathered to celebrate, and Frank's mental vigour and lively enthusiasm were as much in evidence as ever. I feel that we have all inherited a measure of his spirit, and certainly his name will continue to be heard wherever Fives is talked."
Frank was highly regarded by all his many friends, and his death is a sad loss to them and to Eton Fives.(C.M.O.B./M.J.S.)
R L Howard (EFA Report 1985-1986)
R L Howard, Cambridge Classics don and Olympic shot putter died on 7th March aged 80. He was discribed in his obituary notice in the Times as "rather surprisingly for a man of his size, one of the best players of Eton Fives in the country."
P J Y Hucks - Cholmeleian (EFA Report 1998-1999)
Many will be sorry to learn of the death of Phil Hucks at the age of 90. He was formerly President of the Old Cholmeleian Fives Club, was a Jester and had also been a member of the EFA Committee.
Phil was very loyal to the Old Cholmeleians, serving on their general committee for many years, eventually becoming President of the Cholmeleian Society. After the war he was instrumental in having the Fives courts on the senior field re-glazed and lighting installed. He personally raised a large sum of money for this work. He also played a large part in hard landscaping the approach to the Bishopswood Road courts.Enthusiastic at games generally, Phil was a very keen and competent Fives player. He was excellent value in the bar after matches, full of good humour and a fund of jokes. He formed a particular affinity to the Old Citizens and donated the Hucks Cup for the six-pair matches played three times a year. He was one of the ancient quartet with Jack Gaywood against Leslie Lockie and Geoff Harris.
Phil was a member of the Stock Exchange from 1928 until he retired in 1969. He was a partner in Medwin and Lowy, Stockbrokers. He was commissioned in the Sherwood Foresters during the Second World War, but was captured in June 1942, spending the rest of the War in POW camp in Italy and Germany.
Shortly after he retired he moved to Devon, where he spent many happy years. Latterly his sight deteriorated but he remained cheerful and very interested in Cholmeleian affairs and Fives in particular.
Phil will be remembered as an able administrator, a keen sportsman and someone who was generous both financially and with his time.
To his wife, Mary and their two children, Michael and Penny, we offer our sincere condolences. (M.W.G.P./G.D.S.)Jack Gaywood writes:
Phil Hucks was a good friend of mine. He and I kept in touch and chatted only a few days before his death.
During my thirteen years as Secretary of the Old Cholmeleian Fives Club he was a tremendous help and was very popular with opponents, notably the Old Citizens whom he and Mary entertained to a lavish tea after our match at Highgate.
Phil was a great trier on court and was unlucky that his time at Highgate coincided with probably the strongest-ever team - Howard Fabian, Javier Aguirre and the Portu brothers, Enrique and Eduardo.
A Hughes - Edwardian (EFA Report 1984-1985)
Tony Hughes first came to notice in Eton Fives upon reaching the final of the Public Schools Competition in 1957 when he and fellow Edwardian, J. C. Green, lost to Aldenham (G. B. Vine and D. R. Barker). He was disheartened not to have won, but a quiet word from the stalwart Old Olavian, Doug Keeble - always a supporter at the various competition finals - inspired him to put this match behind him and come back the next year to win the Kinnaird Cup.
So began a domination of the amateur championship for several years. With A. J. G. Campbell, also from KES, the partnership was formidable. Gordon Campbell was a strong, steady player with a good cut and he would volley at every opportunity. Tony's strengths were his incredible retrieving and considerable courtcraft and guile. They were the first pair to win the Kinnaird Cup four times, eventually making it eight and Tony achieved a ninth win once with D. J. S. Guilford (Old Harrovian). Tony's record, however, of nineteen times in the final is unparalleled.
But Tony was not just outstanding as a player - his service to the game was equally so. He founded the Old Edwardian Fives Club in 1958 and led it with enthusiasm all his life. He inaugurated and organised the Midland Tournament, ran the County Championship and served regularly on the EFA Committee. He was regarded as the obvious EFA representative on the international front and contributed numerous articles for the Annual Report. He wanted to play Eton Fives on every continent and persuaded another Edwardian, Richard Tyler, to accompany him on most of the trips, which included Zuoz, Zurich, Diusseldorf, Rheinberg, But he was not satisfied just to play on all these different courts - he dedicated much time in coaching at all levels and a letter from Northern Nigeria pays a glowing tribute to him.
Other sports which Tony took to easily were Rugby Fives - he even played in Boston, North America Handball, which took him to Ireland and Canada and he was also more than competent at squash and lawn tennis.
In 1995 he was a contender for the Chairmanship of the EFA, He had much to offer and had many loyal followers, Although he missed the appointment narrowly he accepted the result with good grace and immediately pledged his continued support.
To some, Tony may have come across as abrasive and too competitive, but he spoke his mind, sometimes with an acerbic wit. He had no difficulty in motivating himself for anything he believed in. His impact on the game has been enormous and he always championed the cause of the underdog. For such a talented player to have devoted so much time to promoting the game including far afield is unique. In his memory, one of the competitions is to be named after him.
In business, Tony was a successful accountant and behind all his efforts has been his devoted wife, Gill, to whom we convey our sincere condolences.
A full church at his funeral bore witness to the respect felt for Tony and our thoughts are with Gill as we all try to come to terms with the huge vacuum that Tony's demise leaves. (G.D.S.)
FUNERAL ADDRESS - TONY HUGHES 9 September 1999, Lodge Hill Crematorium, BirminghamAs probably everyone here knows, next to Gill what Tony cared for most was his juke box - the genuine Rockola juke box that Gill gave him as a sixtieth birthday present in June last year. It was an inspired gift typical of Gill, of course - and it resulted in Tony's developing an enthusiasm for record collecting, particularly of skiffle and jazz, to the extent that one or two of those close to him began to nurture a suspicion that he might be becoming just a tad obsessional about this new interest. This nonetheless provided him with a very real and absorbing pleasure, a pleasure that was shared with us at the start of this service.
One record that was not included in that juke box collection, not surprisingly really, was one of the King Edward's School Song - Tony won a scholarship to King Edward's. The second verse of the song goes:
Here's no place for fop or idler; they who made our City great
Feared no hardship, shirked no labour, smiled at death and conquered fate;
They who gave our school its laurels laid on us a sacred trust;
Forward, therefore, live your hardest, die of service not of rust.
Tony was certainly neither fop nor idler, and his life can be seen to have observed the exhortation of that last line:'Forward, therefore, live your hardest, die of service, not of rust'.
He was born in Ward End, and his earliest school days were spent locally at Thornton Road Junior School. On leaving King Edward's, he chose not to go to University but instead took up accountancy in Birmingham in his final year coming out as top student. He was articled to Grant Thornton, and then took over J. W. Scrivens in Moseley in 1961; Guy Litherland subsequently joined him, and in 1975 the Partnership was established; during the 80s the firm moved to its present premises in Bournville. Tony loved accountancy and he served his clients well; he always worked his hardest, and had high expectations of those around him. It is not surprising that many of the letters Gill has received in recent days have been from clients who recognized in Tony a professional integrity, a commitment to the business and, above all, a down to earth, human approach; they also expressed an awareness that they had lost a friend.
The commitment Tony showed to the business was reflected, too, in his commitment to Gill. They married in September 1974, celebrating, therefore, their Silver Wedding Anniversary last year. They made their home in Moor Green Lane - currently in the middle of significant building works as some long cherished plans are being put into effect. Mutually supportive throughout their married life, they together developed a love of Malta, and spent many happy holidays there.
Just as Tony worked his hardest, so he played his hardest, and many people here today will have come to know him through sport. There was a strong competitive streak in him, and he enjoyed sports of all kinds, whether as a player or as a spectator. He played squash and tennis to a good club standard, annihilating me on one not so memorable occasion, and he ran several marathons. His real sporting love, though, and the game in which he achieved international eminence, was Eton Fives.
He had been introduced to the game during his school days, and had the distinction of winning the British Amateur Championship (the Kinnaird Cup) a total of nine times, eight of which were with the same partner, Gordon Campbell - this achievement merited a mention in the Guinness Book of Records. His appearances in the final, in fact, winning or losing, totalled nineteen, spread over a period of thirty-two years. Typically, he had not given up the idea of winning the title just one more time. Equally typical, he served his sport well, seeking to give something back to it by devoting a great deal of time and energy into running the Old Edwardians Eton Fives Club.
He also, latterly, took up Rugby Fives, and relished playing in two tournaments: The President's Cup and The National Veterans Championships - he inevitably became Veterans Champion twice and won the Vintage Title twice. He also became a devotee of Irish Handball, playing in England, Ireland and Canada, and from all these games - Eton Fives, Rugby Fives and Irish Handball - he derived enormous fun and treasured all the friendships that resulted.
He brought an engaging enthusiasm to any project that interested him. Some ten years ago, as his fiftieth birthday loomed, he decided that it was time that he saw more of the world, and took up backpacking. To be fair, this was not for Gill, and his stalwart companion was his regular Fives partner, Richard Tyler. Over the next few years, always with Fives gloves in their packs, they visited such off-the-beaten-track places as the Everest Base Camp, Northern Nigeria, Chile and Patagonia.
Everyone here will have their own memories of Tony, perhaps his quirky sense of humour, but above all his zest for life, underpinned by a transparent decency. Those memories will stay with us. And although all of us who knew him will be sharing a sense of loss, the reminder in this service is not one of despair but of hope. This is not the end. The Christian message is that in Our Lord's death, death, and our fear of it has been overcome. As Christ said to his disciples:
Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; I am going now to prepare a place for you.
We can take further comfort from the knowledge that Tony chose to live his life to the full, and that this was a fulfilled life. Perhaps, too, there is a message we can take away from this service in those words from the King Edward's School Song:
Forward therefore, live your hardest, die of service, not of rust.
Nicholas FisherFIVES ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
Tribute to Mr Tony Hughes
I learnt with deepest shock of the death of Mr Tony Hughes on Tuesday 31st August, 1999. To us in Nigeria, Tony's death meant the loss of the only Eton Fives player who believed in Nigerian Fives.
I recall way back in 1988 and through sheer intuition, Tony spend considerable time and energy to trace us with a view to establishing the lost contact and relationship between EFA and Nigerian Fives. I swear he went through a lot of frustrations. I can also swear he never gave up. His efforts finally paid off which resulted in an extensive tour of Nigeria from 19th December 1988 to 8th January 1989. He, in company of Mr Richard Tyler came to Nigeria, a visit that perfected his vision of International Fives.
Throughout the visit, he remained understanding, trusting and accepted the peculiarities of the game in Nigeria and the UK. Tony studied every aspect of the Nigerian Fives, including the various peculiarities of our courts and even players. He remained optimistic that despite our best team beating his pair, such a team could not repeat such a feat in the UK. How true this came out to be.
Consequently, in March 1989, we visited the UK and participated in the Kinnaird's competion for that year. Tony hosted us in his house and stayed with us throughout the visit. One thing that struck us was that unlike in Nigeria when everything about Fives comes up naturally, in the UK everything has to be arranged through endless phone calls and disappointments. Tony, however, persisted and eventually got us through. When we asked whether it was worth all the effort and bother, he assured us that he was ready to go through more traumatic situations to sell Nigerian Fives. I recall using some derogatory terms such as 'Fives courts in the UK are mere graveyards' and that considerable efforts in time and energy have to be put to bring human beings to use them, he simply agreed. That showed how much of a large heart he has.
Like all human beings, one has to fail at some time or other. Indeed Tony failed to get UK players to acknowledge, understand and appreciate Nigerian Fives. His last comments, I recall, was that English Fives players maintain 'a dignified silence' whenever Nigerian Fives is mentioned. As far as we were concerned it wasn't Tony who failed, but the UK players who failed to appreciate what Tony was talking about.To us in Nigeria, Tony was the only International Fives player. His death has undoubtedly created a vacuum and has left a big challenge to all UK Fives players for unless the game becomes internationalised, there is no way it could be played at the Olympics.
Until his death, Tony was married to two wives - his lovely wife, Gill and his charming game of Fives. May his gentle soul rest in peace, Amen.
Adamu Yakubu National SecretaryD Hulbert - Harrovian (EFA Report 2006-2007)
Dennis Hulbert who died on 5 October 2005, was in the Harrow Eton fives pair of 1953, playing mostly with Alan Boor. He was better known as a cricketer and hit the headlines by taking 12 wickets for 69 runs in the match against Eton at Lord’s in 1952 – an important contribution to a seven-wicket victory. The popular press made much of the fact that he was a ‘state scholar’ and the son of a metropolitan policeman, unusual for Harrovians in those days. Although he continued to play fives and cricket whenever he was in England, business commitments forced him to spend increasingly long periods in Geneva where he forged a successful career with the Royal Dutch Shell Group and later with Tricentrol. In later years he suffered from a severe form of Parkinson’s disease. Dennis’s son Jonathan played fives in the Harrow team of 1984. (J.D.C.V.)
Constructed by Mike Fenn
18th May 2000
efa@etonfives.co.uk