75 years ago (1926-7)

It is very difficult to piece together the early history of the EFA. Although the first minutes of the Association date from 1st. February 1934, it is clear from these minutes that there had been earlier meetings. For example it is recorded that Mr D Egerton 'had resigned' as Secretary 'owing to ill-health'. It was decided to send out a circular letter to the Schools and Clubs to outline the work of the Association which consists of running the Kinnaird Cup, the Public Schools handicap and the Old Boys Competitions. It seems that the EFA was set up in the 1920's (does anyone know the exact date?) and no record or minutes of the committee meetings before 1934 appears to have survived: unless by chance they are still in an old box somewhere in someone's attic. So we do not know who the first officers of the Association were, or who they were in 1926-7, though I would guess that De Quetteville was Chairman, D.Egerton was Secretary and G.R.McConnell Treasurer.

Nor is it clear whether the Kinnaird Cup took place in the season of 1926-7. It was introduced in 1924 ( 1923-4 ?) as an Old Boys Championship and D.Egerton and Anon appear to have been the winners. RG De Quetteville and RA Redhead (Old Etonians) are recorded as the winners in 1926 (is that the season of 1925-6?), but there was no contest in 1927. It was resumed in 1928 (1927-8 season?) when De Quetteville and Redhead again won the final for the Old Etonians. It was the only competition at that time. The Public Schools Handicap was first played in 1928-9, with an Under 16 competition in 1929-30. It was not until 1932 that the Kinnaird was changed to being the 'Amateur Championship' and the Queens Club Competition for the Old Boy Clubs was introduced in 1934-5.

The major event of 1927 was the building of the covered court, with electric light, at the Queens Club, to supplement the open court, which had been built before the First World War.

Any information on these early years would be most welcome.

50 years ago (1951-2)

President: RG De Quetteville, Vice President: JM Peterson Chairman: AT Barber, Treasurer: PC Curtis, Secretary: H. Le Bas

There were three committee meetings, in September, November and December, the last preceding the Annual General Meeting, which was attended by 12 members. The one change on the Committee was the election of PBH May in place of WP Shovelton.

This season saw the completion of the post-war revision of the Laws and Rules. The issue of the restoration of the fives court at the Queens Club remained unresolved after four years of negotiation, and the EFA still had no London base. A sub-committee was set up to investigate the situation. The finances continued to be more than sufficient to fulfil the commitments of the Association. The transfer of a further £25 from the current account brought the total amount in the Post Office Savings Bank to £179 (about £ 3,250 in present day values)

Two competitions took place in 1951-2:

In the Kinnaird, PBH May and JWH May (Old Carthusians) beat AR Kittermaster and AHB Moulsdale (Old Salopians) to record their second successive win. Eton dominated the Public Schools Championship with Eton (DAC Marr and DMG Bailey) defeating Eton ( DR Maclean and JH Illingworth) in the final.

Cambridge won the varsity match.

25 years ago (1976-7)

President : AT Barber, Vice Presidents: JM Peterson, PC Curtis, PD Barton, DJS Guilford Chairman: FB Hooper, Treasurer: RMG Turnbull, Secretary: MJ Shortland Jones

Three committee meetings were spaced out in October, March and July, with the Annual General Meeting following the October meeting. The third of the committee meetings was a marathon lasting a total of 3 3/4 hours, starting in July and ending in September, with a break in between. The reason was the lengthy discussion on a paper on the future of the game, which the Treasurer had circulated to members of the Committee.

Two members of the committee retired, JJ Penn and KR Hughes. GB Bates and MR Fenn were elected in their place. The President confirmed that Lord Home had been persuaded to continue as Patron of the Association. Zuoz Fives Club, Zurich, was unanimously elected to membership of the EFA. There was warm approval of the Annual Report with its greatly improved format and appearance.

The major issues before the committee in this season were threefold:

a) Playing facilities, and in particular the quest for a court or courts in London for the EFA which would be independent of the schools. Hopes of the renovation of the Queens Club court had died. There was speculation about the future of the St. Olaves Tower Bridge courts and there was information that Southwark council were interested in a sports centre on the site. In fact, nothing came of this and it was to be another 25 years before the hope of a London base was to become a reality. The appeal for the Oxford courts had realised £ 8000 and had now closed.


b) The finances were in a satisfactory state with a small surplus, but there was need for further resources if the EFA were to function adequately and particularly to provide grants for work on fives courts. The Treasurer urged the committee to activate a drive for new members, not least through the good offices of the club secretaries, and for long term promotion and sponsorship.

c) The arrangements for the growing number of competitions formed a central part of the committee's discussions. The two competitions of 25 years earlier had multiplied into eight. The Kinnaird, Alan Barber and Midland Championships were the adult events: as a result of criticism the EFA resolved to show more positive support for the Midland event. In addition the League, established in 1971-2, had in four years expanded into two divisions, the Old Edwardians winning Division I and Old Berkhamstedians Division II.

The schools had now four competitions. The Schools Championships, organised by Geoffrey Bolt, were well supported. There were 42 pairs for the Senior Championship, which was won by Berkhamsted. The Under 16 competition was revived after a lapse of 38 years: interestingly, the under 16 competition was first played in 1930 when Harrow beat Highgate and subsequently took place in 1934, 1936 and 1938. Wolverhampton dominated the Under 16 and 14 competitions beating Highgate in both finals. The Prep School competition was won by Ludgrove.

Championship results were:
Kinnaird: DC Firth and MR Keeling (Old Berkhamstedians) beat AE Gibson and DB Wainwright (Old Cholmeleians). In the Alan Barber Cup The Old Cholmeleians beat the Old Citizens and the Kinnaird winners (DC Firth and MR Keeling) also won the Midland Tournament defeating A Hughes and AJG Campbell (Edwardians) in the final.

10 years ago (1991-2)

President: MJ Shortland Jones Vice Presidents: PC Curtis, BD Barton, DJS Guilford, FB Hooper. Chairman: RNL Black, Treasurer: RMG Turnbull, Secretary: MP Powell.

The Annual General Meeting was held in October at which MJ Shortland Jones was elected President in place of PC Curtis who was retiring after six years in the post. A Hughes retired from the committee and AR Wagg and RC Tyler were duly elected, CMB Williams ( in charge of the Schools Championships) and D Whitehead ( guardian of the fives balls) were subsequently coopted. At the January meeting, GD Stringer was elected a Vice President.

The fifteen years since 1976-7 had seen an explosion of activity in Eton Fives and this is reflected in the increase in committee meetings from three to eight in a season. It is also reflected in the sharp increase in the number and variety of competitions offered. The four adult events had grown to eleven, with provision now for ladies in the Mixed Championship(17 pairs) won by MJ Moore and J King and the Ladies Championship (11 pairs) won by KM Runnacles and L Wootten. The Lord Aberconway Cup, for father and son ( or daughter?), in its second year saw the Barbers retain the title. There were regional events with RA Mason and JR Mole (Edwardians) winning both the London Tournament and the Northern Championship. Indeed there was strong Midland success in the Eton Fives in this season with MJ Moore and G Baker (Old Wulfrunians) defeating RA Mason and JR Mole(Edwardians) in the final of the Kinnaird, the Old Wulfrunians winning the Alan Barber Cup and Staffordshire beating Middlesex in County Championship. Just to emphasise this superiority, Wolverhampton beat St Olaves in the final of the Holmwoods School Championships. There were six other competitions for the various age groups of school players. To salvage the pride of the south, the Old Harrovians won the division I of the League. And one should not forget the young at heart with JW Biggs and MJ Shortland Jones winning the Veterans competition. In Switzerland the first Engadin Challenge Trophy with 26 pairs took place and was won by G Stucki and G Turner.

Two major concerns of the committee by the 1990's were the efforts to broaden the contacts with younger players and to reach out to new groups of players and, secondly, the search for more money to finance the increasing commitments. Central to the first concern was the production of an impressive coaching manual, which was on the verge of completion. This was linked to plans for providing coaching support where needed and in turn this was linked to the ebb and flow of the fortunes of fives at schools where so much depends upon the enthusiasm of one or more individuals members of staff. There was a ferment of ideas: the creation of a Junior Committee and under 21 competition, the establishment of regional fives centres for interested individuals to come learn the basics of the game, a new category of student membership of the EFA etc. In another development, the committee supported the arrangement made with Orpington Council to include fives coaching sessions as part of the evening class programme.

The second issue was finance, not only to deal with a deficit, but also to provide for future projects. The Association had been offered a grant of £4,000 'to attract new players to existing courts'. There were several schemes: to promote the sale of EFA goods, to find sponsorship for the Kinnaird and County Championship, but most significantly the creation of an Eton Fives Trust with charitable status which the retiring President, Philip Curtis, particularly supported. It was thus only appropriate that the Committee should record in its minutes the debt of the EFA to the contribution which Philip Curtis had made in so many ways over 45 years.

R.B.



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Minutes of Yesteryear by Roger Beament
Finalised 19th September 2002
efa@etonfives.co.uk

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