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Many fixtures that went well in 2023 are being repeated this year by popular request.

Wales SM defeated GBV on the same early March weekend that GBV were victorious over the Fitzwilliam SC from Dublin, made even better (or worse if Irish) by Marcus Smith’s last minute drop goal. The York tour is one of many reports that will appear in the next newsletter. England, Scotland and Irish SM sides await later in the year with the doubles only match against the Jesters and Festival of Squash in the latter part of 2024.

The Newsletter will continue with Aubrey’s 5 questions. Alison Goy is next in line. Meanwhile, the Chair has found out that James Dubois sings in a Barbershop Chorus and Trevor Cox builds Film Sets when not playing squash which will feature too.

Our annual tournament returns to Colet’s and has been placed early in September (7th&8th) at the start of the season. Golf Days in Surrey and Windermere with more multi-player fixtures to include the RAF and Navy will add to another busy year which will feature prominently in our new website.

Finally, can I ask you to consider buying the now printed book of our 60th Anniversary produced by our esteemed secretary Nigel Belle.

We wish all our playing members selected for Home Internationals many winning matches.

The final weekend of our Anniversary year saw 60 members attend a 60’s disco for our final 60th year celebration, and what a night!

Huge thanks go to Karen Hume who had the original idea and went on to organise the whole thing superbly. Karen was ably assisted by Robert Smith and a lot of mannequins (not, I hasten to add, other committee members)! Jane and Nigel Belle provided original clothes from the 60’s that they had worn themselves. Thanks to Nick Wise who produced excellent posters and LP covers (gratis!) and Karen with lots of helpers dressed the room.There were clothes and masks for those wanting pictures.

There was fantastic bowl food x 4 – Cone of scampi & chips, Thai green curry, lamb tagine and chocolate brownies all served by the hard working Colet’s bar staff with Geoff Howes’ liaison work behind the scenes. Thanks too to Geoff for all his professional photos.

Our disco, DJ Andy Bailey, played a string of great hits that had most guests on the floor (dancing not passed out!) at some stage. “Dad” dancing was great and hard to watch in equal measure, but the epic Chubby Checkers “Let’s Twist Again” revealed just how many of our playing members can still bend their knees! There were great outfits from Belles Elvis Presley, Gollaglee’s Clint Eastwood, and Bradburn’s Ian Gillan. Prizes though, went to the ladies with Jackie Redfern wearing her Mum’s original crimplene dress and Lynne Davies ’Mary Quant combo (£18 off EBay) taking the bottles of champagne. Geoff Walton’s magic tricks kept everybody entertained and he was thanked for travelling a long way to perform. The photos in this Newsletter and on the website will illustrate what a brilliant evening was had by all. Karen you are a star!!

Another spectacular golfing day at Surbiton Golf Club on Monday September 4th saw 18 members of the club compete for the annual GB Vets Golfing Day Trophy. Well there will be a trophy when I get round to sorting one out.

Another year goes by and it seems that some golfers mature with age, or is it just that their handicap goes up so they can score the same. For the second year running David Johnson came first, with a previous winner David Esser second and James Barrington third. Chris Howes won the prize for best lady’s score. Dillwyn Rosser won both the longest drive and nearest the pin in 2 shots. He actually drove the hole and narrowly missed his eagle putt. Stuart Hardy won nearest the pin. The team prize (teams were randomly drawn after the round) went to John Galt, Kevin Connors and myself.

A mix of made up awards ensured that everyone left with at least a ball as a memento of the day, which will probably be lost the first time they play with it.  The fixture is booked for the 9th September next year but with a 1.00 start. This date is the Monday after the proposed club championships finals weekend.

Hopefully even more of you will join us next year.

The 2023 Club Championship was held at a new venue, Nuffield Health, St Albans. We were celebrating our 60th Anniversary and it was hoped that the entries would be an improvement on the last few years. This proved not to be the case, but the competitors who entered enjoyed a successful weekend of squash. The low entries did not reduce the standard of squash played, with many International players competing there were some exceedingly competitive matches. The tournament was opened up to England Squash Masters players who were not GB Vets members and some local players provided stiff competition to our members. Andy Duckworth pushed Dean Newberry all the way in a close 5 set match in the Over 45 event.

Other winners were Marvin Rust, John Parkes and Allen Barwise in the O’50, 60 and 65 tournaments.

Barry Featherstone entered the O’70 and O’75’s, winning them both. With Mike Clemson playing (he says) in his last competitive event taking the O’80 title. The Non County events were won by Dan Sweeney and Keith Ragg.

The ladies title was decided in a close match between Catherine Ruffle and Keeley Peacock with Catherine winning.

The ladies doubles nearly didn’t happen when Kim Ricks was unable to compete, but a local player, Louise Dalwood, was called in as a replacement and formed a winning partnership with Keeley Peacock. The mixed doubles title was won by Dan Sweeney and Catherine Ruffle.

The men’s doubles events usually prove to be some of the best matches over the weekend. Unfortunately we had very low entries but the finals were won by Hurford and Stiles in the O’40 and Howes and Waddy in the O75.

The two final awards were for the Burrell Trophy which was given to Allen Barwise for services to the club and for contribution to the tournament, the Norman Hunt Trophy to Philip Courtenay-Luck.

Main Report

A bumper year for GB Vets, pushing forward with various new projects and starting our 60th Anniversary year with many planned events.

The aim to arrange multi player fixtures was successful with matches against the Civil Service, Oxford University, Scotland Masters ( to honour John Rae and Jim Dougal ) and Wales Masters. Tours were another success with an inaugural visit to play Gibraltar who will come to England later this year. We fielded a team at the Jersey Festival and our annual fixture at the Fitzwilliam Club in Dublin was more successful than the Rugby result. The Festival of Squash at the RAC Woodcote Park playing against the Army, RAC and Escorts had a lot of players turning out to enjoy a great days squash in magnificent surroundings. Perhaps the only downside was the Army team walking off with the trophy again!

Our players have been very busy and successful this year. The British Open produced 4 winners and 9 runners up. In the Home Internationals 39 members will be playing for their country. The World Championships in Poland had 20 members enter. A tremendous 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals were won.

Two Golf competitions were played in Surbiton and Windermere with 40 members turning out. Regular fixtures that have happened for many years were also played with results in newsletters and on the website. Our Newsletters remain an interesting and well read feature of our club. Sara Howlett, Mark Cowley, Karen Hume and David Leakey the most recent subjects of 5 Questions. Our annual tournament was less popular. Robert Smith was awarded the Burrell trophy and David Parker picked up the Norman Hunt trophy. GBV continues to thrive with 25 new members in the last year.

We are now well into the 60th year and a lot more is planned. There are 3 more multi players events against England, Ireland and the Jesters (Doubles only). Our Festival of Squash will be on Sunday November 26th and the preceding day will be an event at Colet’s with squash games in the afternoon and dinner/disco/auction in the evening.

I am indebted to members of the committee for doing virtually all the work to make these events so successful. Without them little of note would happen and they have my sincere thanks.

Ian Graham

The club is actively seeking to broaden the membership throughout the United Kingdom.

Please download a Membership Form, sign up your friend and send in to the Hon. Secretary, remembering to fill in all Bank details!

Nigel Belle, The Red House, Church Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6EA. Tel: 019595 65444.

Download membership form

Oxshott: 19 Apr 2024
RAC Pall Mall: 17 Apr 2024

Newsletter April 2024
Newsletter December 2023
Newsletter July 2023

Annual Report 2022-23
Minutes of 60th AGM

Having celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2013, please remember that the Anniversary Book is still available.

Click here for details.