RFA AGM
London, 10th September 2013
At last week’s AGM Bob Dolby was elected President in succession to Dick Warner. Bob learned his Fives at Alleyn’s playing with some of the ‘greats’ of the 1950s: Bill Bailey, John Pretlove, Bob Smith and Roy Birmingham. Bob claims also to have taught the 13 year-old David Hebden “all he knew” on the courts at Townley Road.
Bob won his first n/national title in 1967: the British Universities Doubles, playing with the late Don Ellwood. “In those days we celebrated with a half of cider (10½d) in ‘The Dog’ and a Walt Disney cartoon at the Odeon, Camberwell Green.” He twice won the Scottish Doubles with David Hebblethwaite – “I did the running, David did the talking – and also told the jokes.” Bob went on later to win the Vintage Doubles with the evergreen Bernard Atkinson, whom he is delighted to welcome as his Deputy, and the Mixed Winchester Doubles with Denise Hall-Wilton and with Emma Seton. In addition he won various Plates, mostly with Rob Cleave (“almost as many as Dick Warner.”)
Bob has coached Eton and Rugby Fives at Berkhamsted School , Radley College and Derby Moor Community Sports College and looked after Cambridge University Rugby Fives since the death of the legendary Jock Burnet in 1989. Over the past 18 months he has spearheaded the campaign to raise nearly half a million pounds to finance the spectacular glass-backed courts in the Cambridge University Sports Centre – “New Portugal Place”, as he calls them in homage to the Cambridge courts knocked down in 1995.
Bob promises that “Bernard and I will use our energy to continue Dick Warner’s tireless missionary work, promoting the playing and coaching of fives and reinvigorating fives in dormant courts wherever we detect them. With tournaments now underway I raise my glass to all the players and coaches and wish them the very best of seasons playing our splendid game.”