Paul Dicker (1938-1994)

It is especially sad to record the death of Paul Dicker from a heart attack in June at the age of fifty-six after an early retirement. He had been the master-in-charge at Berkhamsted School for nearly thirty years, was a Jester and had been appointed recently Honorary Secretary to the EFA.

Neil Davenport (1952-1994)

Neil died on 5th February 1994, a few days before his fifty-second birthday. His death was sudden and a shattering experience to family and friends. He died on the night that he returned home to Dallas after spending a week in England. In fact he had been playing fives two day earlier at Eton. He had spent that evening after fives with a group of us relating his experiences of travelling around the world in a style that was his very own.

Frank Hooper (1912-1993)

Francis Barrington Hooper was born in December 1912, and died of cancer in August 1993. Frank, as he was universally known, was educated at Westminster School, and went straight from school into the family firm, the Argus Press. During the war he served in the Intelligence Corps, and then returned to the world of publishing and printing magazines. He became Managing Director of the Argus Press in 1962, and remained in that position until his retirement in 1974.

David Barker (left) & Guy Vine, National Schools' Winners in 1957

David Barker (1939-1993)

For all those who knew, or knew of, David Barker his recent death will have come as a grievous shock. He attended Aldenham School from 1954 to 1959 and represented it at the highest level at Football, Cricket, Hockey and Eton Fives. It is perhaps for the last of these sports that he will be best remembered.

Roald Dahl (1916-1990)

This obituary is taken from "A History of Eton Fives" by Dale Vargas and Peter Knowles.

John May (back row, left) in the Charterhouse team of 1947

JWH May

(extract from the Eton Fives Association Annual Report 1990/91)

Peter and John May, from Charterhouse, were perhaps the most accomplished pair of all time, and such was their domination of the Kinnaird Cup for the three years they entered, 1951-1953, that they lost but a single game. Had they not gracefully retired - pour encourager les autres? - while still maintaining their prowess and distinction in other sporting fields, they would have continued unbeaten for years.

Charles Sheepshanks

(extract from the Eton Fives Association Annual Report 1990/91)

Etonian Charles Sheepshanks, gifted all-round sportsman too, was one of the great artists of Eton Fives.

Jeremy Marston

(extract from the Eton Fives Association Annual Report 1987/88)

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Jeremy Marston, Master in Charge of Fives at Aysgarth.

"Bunny" Garrett (left) with Gordon Stringer and "Floater" Hawken

BJ "Bunny" Garrett

(extract from the Eton Fives Association Annual Report 1987/88)

The Old Citizens Fives Club is saddened by the death of one of its greatest servants, 'B.J.'Garrett, whose contribution, to the Old Citizens and Fives in general, was unique.'B.J.' with others, was responsible for the development of Fives fixtures with such schools as Shrewsbury, Repton, Uppingham, King Edward's Birmingham, Rydal, St. Bees and Marlborough, none of whom normally played London teams.

Alan Barber (1905-1985)

In the death of Alan Barber in March Eton Fives has lost its wisest mentor.