A Century of Fives: Berkhamsted School Celebrates 100 Years of Its Historic Courts
Andy Stephenson reports:
22/06/26: Players past and present came together this month to celebrate a remarkable milestone in the history of Berkhamsted School Fives: the Centenary of the Castle Eton Fives courts.
Originally converted from bat fives courts in March 1926, the courts have undergone significant changes over the past century. A roof was added in the 1950s, and successive improvements and renovations have created the modern facilities enjoyed by today's players. One hundred years on, the courts remain at the heart of a thriving Fives community.
The centenary celebrations were marked during Berkhamsted School's two annual Fives tournaments, which brought together pupils, staff, Old Berkhamstedians and members of the wider Fives community.
Scholars and Rogues Tournament
The first event, the 14th annual Scholars and Rogues Tournament, took place on Thursday 18th June. A firm favourite on the Fives calendar, the competition pairs pupils with members of staff, creating a unique blend of competitive spirit and school camaraderie.
Thirty pairs took to the courts in a celebration of the strong relationships that exist between pupils and staff through sport. After an afternoon of fiercely contested matches, Mr J. Butcher and Austin emerged victorious on 3 -2, defeating Mr A. Dawson and Theo in the final.
Bowl Final: Mr C. Davey and James beat Mr A. Fuller and Louis on golden point rule following a thrilling 3-all tie.
Plate Final: Ms C. Bell and Charlie defeated Mr M. Gillard and Dillon.
It is a tribute to the Berkhamsted community that it could support the event so magnificently with a full programme of school events still being produced. We were treated to an excellent BBQ during the course of the event – thank you to our excellent catering department.
Derek Whitehead Tournament
The celebrations continued on Sunday 21 June with the Derek Whitehead Tournament, an event established in 2015 and won by Mark and Oliver. It was set up in honour of one of the school's most dedicated supporters of Fives. The tournament pairs current pupils with either an Old Berkhamstedian or a member of the Tuesday evening Fives community, reflecting the enduring connections forged through the sport.
Twenty-one pairs competed throughout the day, with experience and youth combining to produce some excellent matches. In the Cup Final, Adam and Shlok narrowly defeated reigning champions Roland and Harry to claim the title.
Bowl Final: Barney and Lucas prevailed over Quentin and Will.
Plate Final: Dennis and Micah defeated Adam and Josh.
Looking Back - and Forward
The Centenary celebrations provided an opportunity not only to reflect on the history of the courts but also to celebrate the vibrant community that has grown around them. Over the past 100 years, generations of Berkhamstedians have learned, competed and forged lasting friendships on these courts.
We were delighted to have Derek in attendance who shared his memories of Berkhamsted fives and really brought the history of the Berkhamsted Courts to life. It was a pleasure to welcome Nigel who was the brainchild of the original event. The post Tournament BBQ enabled all to share stories of what could have been on the day and also exchanged memories of days gone by.
The success of both tournaments demonstrated that Fives continues to thrive at Berkhamsted School. As the courts enter their second century, they remain a place where tradition, competition and community come together ensuring that the legacy of the past 100 years will continue for many more to come.