Jack Gaywood (1914-2000)

Jack Gaywood was, for many years, Honorary Secretary of the Old Cholmeleian Fives Club, later President, a member of the EFA Committee and at one time the EFA's Honorary Auditor. He was also a Jester.

In 1927 Jack entered Highgate School and played in the Fives team in 1933. After wartime army service, he helped to re-establish Old Cholmeleian Fives and became Honorary Secretary in 1952, a position he held until 1965. He was a very enthusiastic, competent player, as was his regular partner, Jack D. Grimsdell. In later years he especially enjoyed the legendary 'old man's' match against the Old Citizens, when for several years he partnered Phil Hucks against Leslie Locke and Geoff Harris. Their combined ages totalled over 250 years and Jack is the last to die.

Jack was an exceedingly sociable man and other than from the Fives' world, had many friends from his banking, army, cricket, bowls and bridge-playing days. He was always very good value apres-Fives and would generally be loathe to vacate the bar until after the last visitor had left.

Diminutive in stature, Jack was a big man in heart and lived life to the full.

Gordon Stringer

John Glover (nephew) writes:

The death of Jack Gaywood at the age of eighty-six, has brought to an end a productive twenty-six-year association with the village of Sway, to which he retired in 1974. He and his widowed sister, Honor, set up home together in Anderwood Drive, as a complete break from Surrey (for him) and North London (for her).

Jack, like his father before him, was a lifelong employee of the Midland Bank. Born and brought up in Woodside Park, North London, he attended Highgate School. Always a keen sportsman, for many years, he was the Secretary of Barnet Cricket Club. This interest was matched with that in Eton Fives. War saw him mostly in Europe and particularly in Italy, from which he developed a lasting dislike for the constantly available tomatoes and peaches.

After the war he returned to banking, but when the opportunity arose to become a Warden at the Midland Bank residential college at Oxted, Surrey, he jumped at it.

On arrival at Sway, both he and Honor became very active in the local community. Jack became a pillar of the Lymington Community Centre. He became a keen player for Lymington Bowling Club until shoulder problems forced him to retire. The house groaned under the (almost) complete set of Wisden, the cricketer's bible, and he supported Hampshire Cricket Club in their matches. His other interests included classical music, and he attended very many concerts. Bridge was also a passon, particularly in later years.

After Honor's death in 1997, Jack decided eventually to move to sheltered accommodation in Forest Oaks Residential Home at Brockenhurst. For some time he had been suffering a little from Parkinson's Disease, but suddenly this began to get the upper hand. By late January this year he was confined to bed, but still able to enjoy listening to his Beethoven CDs. However, Jack remained cheerful and cracking jokes until his infirmity eventually overcame him. To use his own expression, Jack finally 'popped off' on 8th February.