The intention was to write about some of the matters discussed by the EFA General Committee fifty, twenty-five and ten years ago, but this was undermined because no meetings of the Committee are recorded between November 1938 and November 1947. So the first peep will be at the minutes of sixty years ago (1936/7) and compare their discussions with those of the committees of 1971/2 and of 1986/7.

An interesting comparison is shown by the following figures, though what one infers from them is another matter.

1936/7 6 committee meetings 17 pages of minutes
197112 2 committee meetings 7 pages of minutes
1986/7 8 committee meetings 42 pages of minutes

Sixty years ago - 1936/7
There were six committee meetings, three of them brief meetings after the AGM, the Club Secretaries meeting and one Special General meeting. Five of the meetings were held in the War Office. There were eight members, a Presidont (RG de Quetteville), Secretary (GM Butler), Treasurer (TGC Lund) and five others (DM Backhouse, AJ Conyers, HG Crabtree, RC Hitchcock and THS Wylie).

Two major issues dominate the agendas. The first is the revision of the rules, which had begun in October 1935. A draft version was considererd at the AGM in 1938 and the final draft was adopted at a Special General Meeting in April 1937. The second project was the reconditioning, lighting and covering of the old court at Queens. The cost was estimated at £175 with the proposal that EFA guarantee £30 as a contribution. This project was accepted at the AGM and later by the Directors of the Queens Club. At the Special General Meeting, the terms of the agreement between the EFA and the Queens Club were accepted,'The existing open court was to be covered with glass, lit... and put in first class playing condition at the expense of the Queens Club'. The EFA could use both courts on an annual payment of £25. The Queens Club would ensure that they wore properly lit and 'maintained in first class condition', and provide changing facilities (including use of bath or shower at the 'usual fee of 6d,'). EFA members could play at the cost of ls.8d per hour in daylight or 3s. per hour when the lights are used. The agreement was binding for ten years as from 1 October 1937. Sadly, the war disrupted this arrangement end the first meeting after the war in 1947 was concerned with settling the outstanding debts to the Queens Club and the possibility of repairing the courts which had been damaged by bombing.

Four competitions took place in that season, the Kinnaird Cup, the Queens Club Championship and the Public Schools Handicap, as well as a new Inter Club Knock Out Championship, for which there were eleven entries. In the meeting after the AGM there was discussion as to the length of interval permissible in a Kinnaird match. It was suggested that five minutes should be allowed after each game,'but that no person should be allowed to leave the purlieu of the court excepting after the third game when a ten minute interval should be allowed.' There is no indication whether that suggestion was adopted. On other matters the committee considered a letter from the keeper at Eton about the possibility of abolishing the game ball rule. It was unanimously agreed that it was such a fundamental feature of the game that the committee would not be justified in bringing it before the General Meeting 'unless an overwhelming majority of the members signified their wish to abolish it.' The Treasurer's report showed a credit balance of £15.0s.11d. The projected balance for the next year was £45. The Secretary was requested to write to Lord Willingdon to see if he were willing to be nominated as Patron of the Association.

Fifty years ego - 1946/47
No committee meetings.

Twenty-five years ago 1971/2
The two recorded committee meetings, one of which preceded the AGM, were held in the East India and Sports Club. There were two Vice-Presidents (JM Peterson and PC Curtis) and the Officers then included two Assistant Secreatries. David Barton completed the last of his twenty years as Treasurer.

The introduction of Associate Membership for individuals was approved at the AGM in October 1971. Its purpose was to strengthen the finances of the EFA and to promote interest in the game. By the June meeting, it was reported that there were 135 associate members and fifty ties had been sold.

A unanimous vote of thanks was passed to AT Baden Fuller for all his past services in the development of a composition fives ball. During the year, there were discussions to draw up an agreement batween the EFA and AT Badan Fuller whereby 'the Committee would be responsible for using the formula of the composition ball for the advancement of the game and not commercial gain.' In June the Committee approved the agreement for submission to the next AGM.

Other matters raised in committee were a concern at the lack of publicity for the game. Stowe School had invited the EFA to send a team in March 1973 on the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary celebration. There is also a cryptic statement that 'an enquiry had recently been received from Venezuela.

Ten years ago - 1986/7
In the fifteen years since 1971/2, the number of committee meetings has risen from two to eight, including a special meeting in April 1987 to discuss conduct in the Kinnaird Cup. The Wax Chandlers' Hall is the main venue, but three of the meetings are held in Birmingham, Harrow and Eton. The minutes are longer, the agenda more diverse and the number of competitions has increased. indeed, at the meeting in July 1987, several committee members felt that there was too much competitive fives at top level and too little at lower level.

The quality of the fives balls were still causing concern. At one point they had not reached the required specification: even in July the production of fifty dozen balls 'was still experimental since results had shown variable bounce.' The paint formula seemed unresolved: the white paint did not last long: in an experimental batch of yellow balls, the bounce had not been so good.

The schools were a focus of activity. A questionnaire had been sent to all Midland schools to assess the degree of commitment to fives and what support the EFA could usefully provide. Eight schools were receiving regular coaching, though the Committee were concerned at the increasing cost: a ceiling of expenditure on coaching was imposed for the succeeding season. $500 was allocated to RGS High Wycombe towards roofing costs: other schools were arranging for court repairs. The number of entries for the Public Schools competition at Shrewsbury was maintained, though the number of schools represented fell. An under 14 competition at Charterhouse had been 'a great success'. But Highgata School's attempt to break the world record for a fives marathon of sixty hours petered out after twenty-six hours.

At university level, the committe registered their concern at the reduction of Cambridge half blues for Eton Fives from 6 to 4 but were later informed that'no change could be made to the Blues Committee's decision'. There was a warning of the end of the fives facilities at Portugal Place at Cambridge. The Chairman and Secretary undertook 'To ensure that plans for new courts were laid well before the current ones were demolished in 1989/90'. It was noted in the July meeting that £60,000 had been raised by the appeal to build two Rugby Fives courts at Oxford.

Among the wider issues, attempts to establish regional organisers were proving difficult and the committee suggested instead the appointment of centre managers to focus on a few key centres. In February 1987 the first tentative steps in producing a coaching manual are recorded: by July the committee 'was delighted with the progress and congratulated the sub-committee'. Although there were about 400 members, a sub-committee was set up and proposed measures to encourage a higher level of recruitment which the Committee accepted.

On other matters, income from sponsorship 'had been significant' and the Jesters had given support to the Kinnaird. The Treasurer was projecting a surplus of £3,000 for the year. The arrangements, complaints about the seeding and the disappointing level of entries for the Kinnaird continued to tax the committee. It was decided to hold the competition over three weekends and, enigmatically, 'the feeding of seeds was agreed as sensible'. And the other players? The Committee agreed on the rules for determining the eligibility of a player to represent a county in the Nat West County Championships. There was some concern at the dominance of Middlesex. Finally, the editor of the annual booklet had experienced difficulties over advertising, late copy and address lists, but 'has oncee again done an excellent job'. It was hoped that in the next year the listing of addresses and telephone numbers on computer would improve the accuracy of information, but the Editor made it clear that he could only be as accurate as the information given to him.

Minutes of Yesteryear by Roger Beament
Created 7th February 2006 by Mike Fenn
efa@etonfives.co.uk

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