Tom Wood and his wife Joan

Tom Wood

(extract from the Eton Fives Association Annual Report 1994/95)

Tom Wood was one of a rare breed who played both Eton and Rugby Fives. In this respect he became a valuable link man between the two governing bodies and he will be remembered with affection as a man of great dedication with a pioneering spirit.

As his father had been, Tom was Clerk to the Wax Chandlers' Company in the City of London and not least he will be recalled for his lavish hospitality after committee meetings.

The City of London School was Tom's first encounter with Eton Fives. The headmaster's address to the new boys included a request for the Fives courts to be used as nobody seemed interested in the game. From that moment Tom became a fanatic and he showed the same devotion to Rugby Fives when, three years later, he moved to University College School where he became Captain of the game. Later he had the distinction of playing with the legendary champion, Dr Cyriax.

After the war, Tom's time was taken up with family life as well as teaching and lecturing in maths and engineering. In the mid 1960s, however, he allowed himself to be persuaded back into the administration side of Rugby Fives and in 1971 he became Honorary Secretary of the RFA Club, starting a remarkable two decades of contribution to the game, both as administrator and player. Tom's impact on the RFA Club was immediate. From a mere 36 fixtures in 1971, the total rose year by year, reaching 81 in 1976 and continuing until it hit three figures in 1984. What was even more astonishing than this growth was the fact that almost all these matches actually took place.

It was always obvious that for Tom the game was the thing, not the winning or the losing so much as the enjoyment of the event. Tom and his loyal wife, Joan, became missionaries for Rugby Fives, throwing in Eton Fives as well, as they travelled the country and beyond representing the RFA Club and the Old Citizens. It was their special joy to discover a hitherto unrecognised variety of Fives or an original shape of court and Tom became expert in recounting local rules and quirky customs. Many a lonely master-in-charge was given moral (and actual) support by the Wood's regular visits to play Fives on his courts and encourage the youngsters in his care.

In 1974 Tom and Joan donated the Wood Cup for the Rugby Fives National Inter-Club Knockout Competition; they also presented a trophy for Winchester Fives Doubles and one for the Old Citizens.

The Wood's generosity and organisational ability was also felt in their American tours and in the way they made sure that visiting teams were received on this side of the Atlantic.

Tom also became Secretary and President of the RFA itself as well as becoming a Jester and Vice-Chairman of the Old Citizens Eton Fives Club. Above all, he was a man of action and it was entirely characteristic and fitting that he was still playing the game he loved when he was 74 years young, just a few weeks before his death.