EFA
Another Peep into the Minute Books
Extracts from the Minutes 1948-49, 1973-74, 1988-89
(as published in the EFA Annual Report 1998-1999 )50 years ago - 1948/49
President: R G de Quetteville Chairman: J M Peterson Treasurer: P C Curtis Secretary: H Le Bas
We start in the calmer world of 1948 with just two meetings, an AGM in October and a committee meeting, a month later, in November. Only two competitions were played. In 1938/9, the last season before the war, there were four competitions, the Kinnaird, the Queen's Club Competition, the Inter-Club Knock Out Competition and the Public Schools Handicap. Interestingly, the EFA had in 1938 explored the possibility of organising a Public Schools Championship, but the minutes record that the Headmasters' Association 'were definitely opposed to the recognition of any more representative games during the holidays.' The project was abandoned. In 1948/9 only the Kinnaird and Public Schools Handicap survived.
Back to 1948/9. The previous year had seen the resurrection of the EFA after the war. It was the consequences of the war that posed the two major problems to the committee. The first was the restoration of the damaged Eton Fives court at the Queens Club. The EFA were keen to start on the repairs which would cost £200 (roughly £3500 to £4000 in 1999 values). It was hoped that the War Damage Commission would contribute towards this cost and the Treasurer had written to the Queens Club proposing that the EFA bear 50% of the remaining cost of the repairs and offering to pay an annual rent of £25 (or the equivalent of about £450). The Jesters had supported this proposal and offered some financial assistance which the EFA Committee much appreciated. The response of the Queens Club was discouraging. They had not yet applied for a licence to repair the court: they considered that the EFA should be responsible far the total cost of the repairs not covered by the War Damage Commission and that the annual rental should be £100 (or the equivalent of about £1800). At their committee meeting in November, the EFA Committee rejected the demands of the Queens Club and decided to try informal approaches to break the deadlock. The Committee agreed that it was not financially practicable to build a court elsewhere. The financial insecurity of the EFA was the other major concern. The Chairman proposed individual membership: he admitted it was somewhat mercenary but if might also help to prevent interest in the game dying out. Those attending the AGM were exhorted to consider this proposal seriously, but a month later the Committee decided that it was inadvisable to introduce individual membership to increase their resources, though the reasons for this decision were not recorded.
Another suggestion that clubs should contribute 5/- per person (about £4.50 at today's values) as indirect individual membership, was equally abortive. The only change was an increase of the Universities' subscription from one to two guineas.
The limited financial resources were the reason that the Committee decided that it could not provide a winner of the Kinnaird competition with more than one replica: a player winning the Kinnaird more than once would have to be content with a record of subsequent wins on the plinth of his replica, but the EFA would pay for the engraving. The new cup for the Public Schools Handicap Competition was duly admired at the Committee meeting and the wording of the engraving agreed upon.
The Rules and Laws were the other subjects of some discussion. There is a record that the changes in the Rules of the Association as detailed in the Annual Report were agreed at the AGM, but there is no indication of what was involved. (Does a copy of the Annual Report for 1947/8 survive?) There was consensus that the Laws of the Game needed certain revision but that it would be a lengthy procedure requiring at least two Annual General Meetings. In the meantime, the Association approved the adoption of the twelve point game. Two amendments were proposed by the Old Salopians. (1) that there should be no special cut for game ball, and (2) the cutter may not have more than two cuts when returning the serve, providing he accepts the serve. The AGM referred the proposals to the Committee which decided to make no changes.25 years ago - 1973/74
President: AT Barber Chairman: FB Hooper Treasurer: RMG Turnbull Secretary: GD Stringer
The pace of activity had increased during the interval of twenty-five years. There were now two Assistant Secretaries to assist the Secretary. There were six competitions to organise. In addition to the AGM on 1 November 1973, there were four committee meetings. The AGM minutes noted that a fee of £2 for the Barber Cup was introduced, supplies of the EFA ball 'were still very short' and there were problems in maintaining the original standard but experiments were in progress. The first day of the Public Schools competition would be organised in pools and there would be an experimental under-14 competition. Chesterfield School was formally elected to the EFA (what has happened to fives there?) and the President announced the launch of an appeal for the new Oxford University courts to raise the £10,500 (about £30,000-£35,000 in 1999 values) required for the two courts at the proposed Iffley Road Sports Centre.
The first committee meeting in 1973 met to discus just one topic, that of liaison with the Rugby Fives Association in promoting fives in general. The minutes suggest a very cautious response from tha EFA. Contact on many issues would be beneficial to both games. The RFA, though, considered that the potential for expansion in their game was strongest at adult level whereas the nature of Eton Fives was that it needed to be taught and coaching was only practicable at schools.
Other issues discussed at the three main committee meetings were routine:
(1) Competitions. Two changes, the pools arrangement on the first day of the Schools competition and a new trial Under-14 contest, had been announced at the AGM. The organisation of the Barber Cup taxed the committee for some time, but by June 1974, it was agreed to introduce seeding, fix the dates of the semi-finals and finals and that there was no need for a sub-committee to run the competition. The timings of the rounds for the Kinnaird provoked considerably discussion, the result of which was that it was decided to hold the Eton weekend before Christmas, the Semi-Final at the end of February and the Final in April. Schools could enter their better pairs. There was little support to run the Public Schools competition in December.
(2) Balls. There had been concern about the variation in the bounce of the balls in the previous year, but it was reported that the latest consignment was performing more consistently. The manufacturers had agreed to the EFA conducting its own research. there is no record of whether the suggestion 'to try and interest a member of the science staff at Eton' in such research was successful or not.
(3) The EFA'a finances were 'satisfactory', though the Treasurer was anxious to build up the reserves, particularly to help those schools 'whose plight was well nigh desperate'.
At the last meeting of the committee in June 1974, the Publicity sub-committee put foward its proposals which were favourably received by the Committee. They included an instructional film, a coaching manual, coaching at schools where there was no qualified master and increased news coverage through a news agency and a newsletter.
During the year, the Committee decided to renew the stock of Peterson's Reflections, to form a sub-committee of playing EFA members to raise sides for matches and to select the best gloves from the examples presented by the three manufacturers who had expressed interest to make fives gloves to specification. The EFA and RFA had agreed to liaise on this matter. The Secretary was asked to seek quotations for a fresh supply of EFA ties, stocks of which were almost exhausted. There was, though, little enthusiasm for introducing EFA cufflinks.
10 years ago - 1988/89
President: PC Curtis Chairman: JDC Vargas Treasurer: RMG Turnbull Secretary: RM Knight
The increase in administration created by the range of competitions and other initiatives contrast with the more leisurely and gentler atmosphere of forty years earlier. Then, the formal meetings comprised of an AGM and one committee meeting, with just two competitions. By 1988 there were seven committee meetings to support the AGM and an oddity called an EGM, which had no agenda and no minutes. The eleven pages of minutes in 1973/4 had grown to twenty-five by 1988/9. There were fourteen competitions to organise and monitor. The pace had become much more intensive.
From the detailed minutes, three themes emerge:
(1) The fourteen competitions demanded a continuing supervision by the committee to ensure their smooth operation. The proposal for a Friendly Fives competition was accepted by the Committee which was more cautious over a 'truly friendly' event, a Fives Weekend Festival. The NAT WEST county championship had run smoothly. The successful Schools' competition had been won by Wolverhampton GS, but unfortunately there were no medals: the EFA stock was exhausted. The Kinnaird entry at twenty-three pairs was disappointing. Next year, it was agreed to insert a Kinnaird entry form into the Annual Booklet to try and increase the entries. The EFA trophy was thought worthy of a trial run. There had been a loss of £119 on the Ladies and Mixed competitions.
(2) There was concern about the future of Eton Fives. It was recognised that the growing pressure of work prevented the Committee from realising all the objectives it had set itself. The priorities should be Sponsorship, Marketing and Regional Support. More resources were needed to achieve lasting results. There were fears that the decline at club level was faster than anticipated. A sub-committee on sponsorship was established. Members of the committee were, at the end of October, asked to bring their ideas for a Five Year Plan for the EFA to the next meeting. None had reached the Secretary by January, and there is no further mention of the Plan in the minutes for 1988/9. There was support for the appointment of an administrator. By the end of the year, there had been no further success in approaches to possible sponsors.
(3) Thera was satisfaction about the fives balls. There was an adequate supply: there were good results with the paint used for recoats. In January 1989 it appeared that the first fifty dozen of the 1988 vintage were too bouncy: a more sober version had proved successful and by March 1988 there was a steady and adequate delivery. The intention in May was to build up a stock of one hundred dozen: by July the hope was for a stock of one hundred and eighty dozen, valued st £3,600. The Committee expressed its gratitude to Derek Whitehead for his determined efforts in ensuring sufficient quality and quantity of balls.
(4) Over the year, the Committee expressed views on a medley of other matters. A £1000 was allotted to coaching, but the Committee was uneasy at the whole amount being spent on one school. In October 1988 it was equally concerned that the Annual Booklet was not ready in time to provide the twenty-one days' notice of the AGM, but there was strong approval of the editor's hard work over the past four years and sadness that he was not able to continue. By July there had been good progress in the preparation of the next booklet. Thanks were also expressed to John Reynolds who had completed the ninety-five page text for the coaching manual, and to A Hughes and R Tyler for their visit to Geelong GS. In July it was hoped to make arrangements to improve the system of booking for the London courts which had been chaotic. This last meeting had to end by 8 pm because of the train drivers' strike. There were only informal exchanges on the last three items on the agend and, as a parting shot, the secretary hoped that more of the committee would attend the next meeting. On that note, the season of 1988/9 came to a brisk end.
Minutes of Yesteryear by Roger Beament
Created 7th February 2006 by Mike Fenn
efa@etonfives.co.uk