Fives Court At QEB Reborn

John Reynolds reports:

03/09/26: One of the best-used courts in the country, the one at the heart of Queen Elizabeth's School Barnet, has been transformed over the past few weeks.

It is now back to its beautiful best to greet the boys as they return from their summer holidays.

Thanks to a grant from the Eton Fives Charitable Trust, great liaison work from the EFA's development officer Natalie Lilienthal, and the tireless staff at JPR Courts, the render on the external left wall and buttress has been repaired; it has been completely repainted (all 130 square metres of it) in a light grey, to boost visibility of white, yellow or brown balls; and a red playline and fleur de lys have been added. It also has a new roof.

The court will now not only play better but also looks much more inviting for prospective new recruits.

The school - an extremely successful grammar school - loves its fives and is now hoping to gain permission for new sports facilities including six new Eton fives courts. So, huge thanks to the school's headmaster Neil Enright and its sport director Jon Hart for their commitment to our magnificent game.

These photos from QEB show the contrast from a month ago and now; everybody loves before-and-after shots. And there's also one of me peeling off the fleur de lys stencil.