Obituaries

Michael Duncan 1940-2024 22/02/24: Michael Duncan, who has died of cancer aged 83, was Master i/c Fives at Harrow from 1969 to 1974 and Membership Secretary of the EFA from 1980 until 2010. Michael w…

Richard Smethers (1949-2022)Gordon Stringer & Dale Vargas write:25/09/22: Richard Smethers, who has died at the age of 73, was a regular member of the Old Cholmeleians Eton fives team that won the Al…

Alistair Simpson (1940-2022)Gordon Stringer and Dale Vargas write:17/08/22: Alistair Simpson, who has died at the age of 82, was captain of fives at City of London School and won a half-blue at Oxfor…

Robin Moulsdale (1928-2022)19/05/22:Shrewsbury School writes: Robin Moulsdale, former Housemaster and teacher, sportsman of distinction, and, in the second half of his life, mystic seeker, has died a…

Robin Moulsdale07/03/22: We are sad to report the death just over a week ago of Robin Moulsdale, who has died aged 93.

Edward, 4th Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (3 Jan 1938 - 16 June 2021)Dale Vargas writes: Edward, Viscount Coverdale, as he then was, was my fives partner at Cambridge; we played in the second pair together…

Michael Constantinidi 1928-2019: A Tribute26/02/20: That Eton fives should become a headline in an obituary in both The Times and The Daily Telegraph, endorses the considerable achievements of the EF…

David Lee (1934-2019)\"Au Revoir Partner\". Richard Corner writes:18/09/19: I am writing this in memory of David S.W. Lee, who recently passed away at his home in Bawtry, near Doncaster.

Michael Constantinidi Thanksgiving ServiceThe Thanksgiving service for Michael Constantinidi will be held at Grosvenor Chapel, 24 South Audley Street, London, W1K 2PA on Wednesday 1st May at 2.30.

Michael Constantinidi09/02/19: It is with great sadness that the EFA reports the death a few days ago of Michael Constantinidi, one of the game's greatest servants.

John LeafDale Vargas writes:04/02/19: John Leaf, who died in October 2018 aged 92, was a polymath.

Anne, with David Guilford, at the opening of the sixteenth court at Eton Elizabeth Anne Shortland-Jones - Nee Young (1931 - 2018) Anne Shortland-Jones will be remembered in Fives circles as the devot…

Duncan Beardmore-Gray 1927-201818/04/18: The Eton Fives community was saddened to hear of the recent death of Duncan Beardmore-Gray at the age of 90.

2018 Richard Bourne TrophyRod Smart reports:04/04/18: Congratulations to Stuart Clark who played out of his skin at Charterhouse last week, to win the coveted Richard Bourne Trophy - the internal han…

Tony Baden Fuller (1938-2018)Nick Preston writes:Tony Baden Fuller saved the game of Eton Fives from disappearing into an abyss when the game’s sole manufacturer and supplier of balls suddenly collap…

Brian Smallwood (1932-2017)Old Salopian Brian Smallwood died in 2017 at the age of 85. Below is his obituary from the Old Salopian magazine.

David Smout (1937-2017)David Smout, who died in 2017 at the age of 80, was an Old Salopian Fives player. Below is his obituary from the Old Salopian magazine.

Roland Williams, back row, far left, in a St.Olave's school team from the early 1960s.Roland WilliamsDick Spooner writes: Roland Williams, whose career was as a broker and underwriter in the City, wa…

Mike HardingTributes to Mike Harding, former Honorary Secretary of the Old Salopian Eton Fives Club from 1979 to 1998, have been pouring in since his untimely death at the age of 68.

Terry Shaw (1939-2016)Dale Vargas writes:Terry Shaw, for many years a stalwart of the Old Harrovians Eton Fives Club, has died aged 77.

Tim (right) winning the Over 60s tournament with Anthony Wagg in 2012Tim Best (1944-2016)Tim Best, who died on 18th July, 2016, won the Public School Fives Championships for Eton with Jonathan Walshe…

Roger Radford OBE (1944-2016)Roger Radford, who died in January after a two year battle with prostate cancer, will be remembered as Hon Secretary of the Old Citizens Fives Club when he took over from…

James Leonard: An ObituaryJan 2016: James Leonard was a remarkably gifted man, both intellectually and athletically. He was undoubtedly one of the best Eton Fives players never to have won the Kinnai…

Jimmy Biggs - A TributeJuly 2015: It is with a deep sense of shock and sadness that we record the death of four-times Kinnaird Cup winner, Jimmy Biggs, in a tragic car accident.

The Old Westminsters, with Andrew in the middle of the front rowAndrew Aitken (February 1954 – April 2015)An Eton Fives record – in two parts

July 2014: Peter Hamilton and John IngramDale Vargas describes the lives of two Fives players with Harrovian connections, both of whom have sadly died this year.

Monty Moss: An ObituaryMay 2014: Monty Moss, who has died at the age of 90, had a vast influence over fives at Harrow, where he was captain in 1942; for many years he was chairman and then president …

Peter KnowlesJan 2014: It is with great sadness that we report the death last week of Peter Knowles. Peter was one of the great servants of the game, as a player then as a coach, especially at Highga…

Roddy Forman: An ObituaryJan 2014: Roddy Forman was master in charge of Fives at Eton for several years and, in retirement, was an ardent coach at Summer Fields, Oxford. He was the ideal person to in…

Jan 2014: Lord Kingsdown - A TributeGordon Stringer writes:Lord Kingsdown, KG, PC (1927 – 2013)It is with a great sense of loss that we record the death of Robin Leigh-Pemberton, Lord Kingsdown, who …

Roger BeamentFeb 2013: We are sad to report the recent death of Roger Beament, former Master-in-Charge of Fives at Highgate and later Secretary of the Eton Fives Association. A Memorial Service will …

David Guilford and Anne Shortland-Jones at the opening of the sixteenth court at EtonDJS Guilford (1930 – 2011)Gordon Stringer and Dale Vargas pay tribute to David Guilford, former Kinnaird Cup winne…

Werner Ahrens (1938-2011): A Tribute by Daniel HaeringWerner, the cornerstone of the Zuoz Fives Club Zürich, has died of cancer at the age of 72. Werner was for many years the central figure in the p…

Jan 2011: Antonia Bruch Memorial MatchEmily Scoones reports:On October 27th 2009, Antonia Bruch sadly passed away from Meningitis. Antonia had just left Highgate School and started at Oxford Universi…

Peter May in the 1951 Cambridge Eton Fives team Peter May – A Sporting LegendThis tribute first appeared in the 2010 Fives Federation Annual ReviewAlthough Peter May's fame in the 1950s was as a grea…

Malcolm Mitchell (1938-2010)Shrewsbury School and the Old Salopians, with many others, are mourning the untimely death of Malcolm Mitchell at 71.One of his many contributions to a more civilised worl…