Peter May in the 1951 Cambridge Eton Fives team

Peter May (1929-1994)

If ever one player's name in Eton Fives has been synonymous with that of a legend then Peter May must rank foremost. As a pair with his brother, the late JWH, also from Charterhouse, they were- never defeated. In fact, only once were they taken to five games, namely by D. J. S. Guilford (Old Harrovian) and T Hare (Old Etonian) in a Jesters match versus Cambridge.

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.

Jim Wallis

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

It is with very great sadness that we have to report the tragic death of Jim Wallis in January. Jim was a very good all round sportsman who developed an outstanding ability at Eton Fives. Having hardly played the game at school, he was encouraged to join the Old Olavians Club in the late 1950's and very quickly demonstrated an aptitude for the game.

Graham Turnbull

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

Earlier this year the whole Fives world was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Graham Turnbull. He had been involved in every aspect of the game ever since leaving Eton, and his departure leaves many gaps to fill.

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.