UK Croquet Clubsbottom
Notes
1. (right) Fitzpatrick was a regular on the post-war croquet circuit and played for Ireland. Pictured at Roehampton 07/09/1949
2.i.Martin Gill on lawn 2, 2000.
ii.Tournaments at Harrow were suspended from the 2001 season until further notice.
iii.Harrow croquet hut completely destroyed by fire 26/05/2001. Only hoops slavaged.
3. Douglas Gurney pictured on lawn 4 (the bowling green) 1999.
4. Match days beer can be bought from a fully-stocked bar in the rugby club, 5 minutes walk from the croquet lawns.
5.Watford croquet hut (middle) completely destroyed by fire June, 2000.
6.i.Canned beer from two canteens. Evening restaurant.
ii.Hurlingham and Parsons Green from the air.
Hurlingham and Parsons Green from the air with boundaries without boundaries
iii.Hurlingham's new annex, completed early 2004, includes a third bar.
iv.Refurbished tennis bar 2004. Note gold-framed print which hangs in same position - left of bar - as it did in 2001.
C Daniels I Parkinson C Daniels I Parkinson bar 1 bar 2 tennis bubble
7.i. Roehampton bar, 1924 ii. Roehampton bar, 2004 8. Roehampton tennis bubble and Ian Parkinson
east Budleigh Budleigh Salterton map
10. East Budleigh circa 2001
east Budleigh 11. Budleigh Salterton map from Ward Lock & Co's Teignmouth and South-East Devon
east Budleigh
11. Championship of Ireland 1968 - L.J. Webb and D. O'Connor (winner).
12. i. Geval photographs of the 5th Belgium Association Open, 18-19 August 2001.
ii. CFB logo link (speech 1 and 2) photographs of Viscountess and Viscount Vilain XIIII, as above.
13.Tunbridge Wells images courtesy of John Diamond.
14.It is said that during September's handicap tournament in addition to the rugby club bar, distinctive little mushrooms may be found growing next to the lawns. Ingesting these fungi can, according to some competitors, produce effects superior to those of the lunchtime pint.
EC, Compton 26/04/04 (courtesy of CA)
15.Eugene Chang and his latest girlfriend. How does he pull them?
16. Sussex signs. Southwick croquet club boasts some very interesting hand-painted signs.
i. Walk between the courts (Thank You)Walk between the courts (Thank You). This sign is unusual in inviting action, unlike most, which prohibit it ("Don't feed the animals", "Don't walk on the grass"). It has held pride of place at the entry to the club from the carpark since at least 1979, when Dr Bowman noted it upon his first visit, and may well pre-date that period by many years.
ii. Donated by Dr John Bowman March 2002Donated by Dr John Bowman March 2002. A great philanderer in the croquet world, this drinking fountain and accompanying sign are a good example of Dr Bowman's famous generosity. He also contributed to the rebuilding of Hunstanton when arson destroyed its clubhouse.
iii. No Chairs Please No Chairs Please (We're British). A curious little sign which begs the question why are no chairs allowed on that particular patch of grass? Is it the site of a Druid burial ground? Or is the subsoil deadly quicksand ready to engulf any chair placed upon it, never to be seen again? We will probably never know the answer.
17. Southwick bar modelled by Robert Alexander and Colin Hemming
18. Hurlingham sign. The sign below can be found on tables in the bar. Another interesting rule is that sports clothing may be worn in bar area until 7pm, after which it is prohibited.
Members are asked to ensure that they comply with Bye-Law 31(d), which reads: 'Coats, umbrellas, sports bags and similar items must not be left on the furniture or in the passageways but must be left in the cloakrooms'.
19.Dennis Porter (pictured manning the lower bar) 1935-2006
Bunny Porter 1936-2008
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Updated July 2008text and images © Russell Bretherton