Fives - Then & Now

FIVES F ives has been a fixture of the College since its Foundation. In November 1934 new courts were officially opened as a memorial to headmaster Stuart: three for Rugby Fives and one for Eton Fives. The Governors donated £200 and almost £800 was raised by subscription from Old Dunstonians, pupils and friends. In the 1950s, fives was one of the predominant sports at the College alongside rugby, Then & Now... “ Some of my happiest memories from my days at SDC were of playing fives. I cricket, athletics, cross-country and swimming. Two golden periods stand out: in the was lucky enough late 1950s the College was virtually unbeatable and Marsh and Clift won the Public to play alongside Schools Championship doubles in 1957 and 1958 and Marsh the singles in 1958. Nii-Noi Omaboe,

who won both the Junior & Senior

By the late 1980s, the College’s most distinguished fives player since the war was National Championships. He

P Newman: he held both the national schools singles and doubles titles for several really was an outstanding player years. The sport was still enjoyed throughout the 1990s but primarily for lack of in our day and it was an honour coaches, was dropped as one of the main school sports. to have served as his double’s

partner.

Current Headmaster, Mr Nicholas Hewlett, is keen to reinstate the tradition and is making sure that fives courts will feature in the extensive refurbishment of the Sports and Leisure Centre which is due for completion in 2021 as part of the largest expansion of the College since its Foundation in 1888. This is one of the three projects for which there is now active fundraising . If you would like to receive more information or make a donation, please email development@sdmail.org.uk or visit the College’s website at www.stdunstanscollege. org.uk. I hope that once the COVID-19 restrictions are eased and the fives club is back up and running, that I might get to see him on the courts again. Tom Coling “

Five Courts Opening Ceremony 1934, left to right:

Col. I M Campbell (Chairman of Governors) Mr Heath (Governor) Mr J F Usherwood (Headmaster) Mr GH Stepney ( Governor)