John Rimer (1942-2010)

Anyone who played against the Old Aldenhamians in the 1970s and 1980s will remember the unmistakable figure of John Rimer with Jesters sweater and trailing bandana, which kept his hair out of his eyes and his glasses in place.

John was the mainstay of the very successful Old Aldenhamian team of that era, with Mike King, Alan Day, Andrew Nicholas, Roger Lloyd-Taylor, Bruce Hawkins, Peter Castell, Henry Llewlleyn-Jones and Graham Pulsford. He would have described himself as a ‘support player’, preferring to let others take the glory (or make the mistakes), but he was one of the best and most reliable support players that one could wish to partner. John was a steady player, who rarely made unforced errors, especially from the back of the court, and his unflamboyant consistency was known to annoy some of the more mercurial opposition. His favourite and most characteristic position on court was beneath the ledge on the front wall, scooping any shot off the buttress back over the top and out of danger. His former partners recall sometimes scrambling an unlikely victory against stronger opposition.

John was an immensely popular player, noted for his welcoming and cheerful character both on and off court, and was usually to be seen at the centre of a genial group of post-match drinkers in the pub after the match.

John also made a huge contribution to the game as an administrator. He was Secretary of the Old Aldenhamian Fives Club and then Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Eton Fives Charitable Trust from its inception. Originally meetings were held in the Hawks’ Club at Cambridge but in later years John and his wife Anne were generous hosts to the trustees at their house in Chenies.

Although an accountant by trade, John and his business partner became successful entrepreneurs, founding a number of restaurants in shopping malls around the country, and building a significant empire. John was noted for being a highly principled businessman, always looking for financial solutions that would benefit everyone, not just himself and immediate colleagues.

John had many interests beyond his business and Eton fives: he had a love for old and eccentric motor vehicles and was a member of The Vintage Sports Car Club for well over 40 years.

As a young man he had captained the Chenies village cricket team; later he was Treasurer of the Village Society and Chairman of the Parish Council.

Sadly, John contracted a rare form of leukaemia and although his doctors, ably supported by magnificent care from Anne, managed to give him a good quality of life for seven years, alas he died far too young. We send our deep condolences to John’s widow Anne and their children, Mark and Sarah. He will be remembered by all who had the good fortune to encounter such an able, amiable, trustworthy and loyal person.

Gordon Stringer with assistance from Dale Vargas, Rodney Knight, Mark Tousey and David Smith.

John's widow Anne presents John's generous bequest to EFA Patron Lord Kingsdown and EFA Chairman Richard Black in 2011