There are two contributions included here, Shrewsbury Croquet pre 1914 and Shrewsbury Croquet – 40yrs – 1983-2023.
Shrewsbury Croquet pre 1914
Members may be interested to know that by 1874, Shrewsbury boasted a very active Croquet Club. According to the book “Queen of Games” by Nicky Smith, players enjoyed the unique experience of having to travel to the lawns by ferry. This note from Tony Hudson was in the clubhouse and I was there when Barbara Edwards approached David Trumper to see if he had any idea where the lawns had been or the ferry mentioned. Unfortunately David did not know, but I was intrigued and subsequent visits to the Shropshire Archive produced some results.
Local historian, Barrie Trinder, in “Beyond the Bridges” page 28 writes “In the 1860s the Pineapple at Underdale had facilities for the game of croquet, which has taken hold on Society”
“Shrewsbury, A Heritage of Old Inns and Taverns” by Derek Row on page 131 lists the Pineapple, Underdale Road. The Pineapple was licensed in 1840. In 1868 the attraction included a croquet lawn. Sold in 1873 when it was developed into a sports complex for football, cricket, rowing and a cinder track for athletics and cycling. No mention of croquet though. One party described in 1874 when nearly 100 guests sat down to tea. After tea the company retired to the “green” which was in excellent trim for dancing.
By 1911 The Pineapple was an extinct Inn but was formerly Underdale Hall and was situated near the present golf driving range. There is an old photo of the hall in Derek Row’s book. The current site is owned by Brian Christmas’s uncle.
The revised 1902 OS map showed there were two ferries across the Severn from town, a horse ferry from near New Park farm crossed to the north of the island to a lane leading up to the isolation hospital and also a foot ferry to the south of the island and both giving access to Underdale road and The Pineapple.
We contacted the Shropshire Lawn Tennis Club and they reported that they held no archive material at Shrewsbury but directed us to the All England Lawn Tennis Association Librarian, Robert McNichol, and also to John Henshaw’s book “Passing Shots” which reports on the formation, on 1st May 1903, of the Shropshire Lawn Tennis and Croquet Association and this was announced in Lawn Tennis and Croquet Magazine, dated 13th May 1903. Mr Exley of Broseley presided and JH Barker of the Severnside Club was elected Hon. Sec. and treasurer. Affiliated clubs in 1904 were Broseley, Prior’s Lee, Severnside and Shrewsbury (Townwalls?), Victoria TC (Oswestry) and Whitchurch.
The Croquet Gazette, Issue 400 of Dec 2021, carries an article about Walter Thomas Jones Whitmore 1831-1872. Whitmore’s record, though very patchy was sufficiently impressive for him to be remembered as “the father of modern croquet” and to be described by Arthur Lillie as the man who “transformed the game from the silliest of open-air games to the most intellectual one.” He was the first National Champion in 1867. He was born at Chasleton House, Moreton-in-Marsh but educated at Bridgnorth Grammar School. (See later note.)
We are indebted to Ian Plummer who has created an index of entries in the Croquet Gazette up to 1913 and the CA archivist Chris Williams very kindly forwarded details of the seven entries between 1906 and 1913 for competitions held in Shrewsbury, sometimes on the club ground (where?) and also on the county cricket ground. Mrs Meyrick Price of The Manse, Uffington being the competition secretary to start with and then Major Burton-Phillipson of Portland House, Shrewsbury taking over. These competitions were held over multiple days, numbers varied but an entry of 31 in the singles and 15 in the doubles is impressive and with a manager and referee appointed. There were open events as well as men’s, women’s and mixed pairs. Entry fees of 2s6d for doubles, 4s for singles and 5s- for the open singles. There is no indication where the players were drawn from but a number of players had low handicaps down to zero.
It is easy to see why croquet was considered a sport for the gentry with competitions held during the working week and a 5s- entry fee in 1906 equivalent to £30 today. There is no mention however of prizes, trophies etc. The county cricket ground, at Frankwell, must have been laid out with a large number of lawns to enable all the competitions to be successfully completed within the week. In 1911 however the final was not played to a finish but called off after 1 game by mutual agreement, due to the very high temperatures.
Further note on Walter Thomas Whitmore-Jones
Research by John Jennings has shown that Walter Thomas Whitmore-Jones was baptized at Chastleton on 14th March 1831, the son of Dorothy and John Henry Whitmore-Jones. Walter was a national croquet champion and instrumental in drawing up the rules of croquet. John Henry Whitmore was baptized at Quatt on 24th June 1796 and John J. thinks that the name Jones was added when he inherited Chastleton. A Shropshire connection to the Whitmore family and Dudmaston.
There was reference to croquet in two copies of the Shrewsbury Chronicle 18th Jan 1901 and 22nd July 1932 but perusal of the two copies at Shropshire Archive failed to locate any items. The machine used however did not give a very good image for me to read.
Written by Alan W. Smith 01/11/2023.
Shrewsbury Croquet – 40yrs – 1983-2023
In 1983, a local resident, John Coutts, approached the Council Leisure Services Department with a view to starting a croquet club. John was an experienced player, with a handicap of four, and had accumulated a set of equipment. He persuaded the authority to let him make use of an old unused tennis court at the Monkmoor Recreation Ground. He advertised a demonstration and offered several weeks of coaching to those interested. Among those attending were Henry (known as Happy) Christmas and his sons Brian and Simon. These coaching sessions provided sufficient interest for a club to be started with the Christmas’s, George and Olive Cook, Connie and Muriel Evason, Roger Harrison, and Mr & Mrs Morgan.
John Coutts and Brian Christmas went to meet James Beardell, Parks Superintendent, at Oakley Manor in September 1983. James Beardell agreed to facilitate the founding of the Club by making the Monkmoor lawn exclusively available, agreeing to maintain it and applying for suitable equipment on permanent loan from the National Sports council. After the meeting John Coutts gave Brian his list of names, addresses and phone numbers of potential members, and subsequently left Shropshire to work elsewhere.
On 30th September, a meeting was held at the Christmas’s house to formally create the Club. The first members, as well as those mentioned above, included Megan Roberts who became the first Treasurer, Wilf Vaughan, David Latto, a Shawbury GP and an experienced player, and Elaine Humphreys. Happy Christmas was elected Chairman and Brian Christmas was elected Secretary.
When the new season started in 1984, the lawn at Monkmoor was in a wretched state, and the Council found the Club alternative accommodation on a redundant crown bowling green at Ditherington. This was self-contained behind hedges and even had its little clubhouse. More members joined in 1984, including Pamela Humber, who became Secretary for a brief time, solicitors Paul Nutley and Jack Hayward, who became Chairman at the end of that year, and Happy Christmas took over as Secretary. Jack Hayward persuaded his company to provide a trophy for the Club’s first formal competition, Handicap Singles, but this was not until 1987, the Macmillan Bennet Cup. It was later replaced by the David Latto Memorial Cup. The Club had by then become affiliated with the Croquet Association, and through the CA, Brian met Peter Dorke who was teaching at Ludlow College. Peter was a regular tournament player and was a former Welsh champion and was invited to hold a coaching course at Ditherington. He also arranged a team from the college to play a match, the Club’s first competitive team match.
The Club returned to the Monkmoor lawn in 1985, where they stayed until 1988. George Cook became Chairman and Happy Christmas, Secretary. A croquet demonstration at Attingham Park arranged by Brian Christmas attracted a number of new members, including Michael and Pat Morley, and Richard and Chrissie Mackinnon. The new by-pass was constructed which caused the destruction of the lawn, and the Local Authority provided the Club with two new lawns, still at Monkmoor, which the Club occupies to this day. They were opened on 27th May 1988, with Muriel Evason cutting the tape. A newspaper cutting and photograph recording the event is on display in the clubhouse. Brian was awarded Honorary Membership in appreciation for his work in helping to establish and run the Club. Michael Morley presented the trophy for what became the Short Croquet competition.
In 1989 a Handicap Doubles competition was started, and also the Ladies’ Championship, suggested by the Social Secretary, June Roberts, with a trophy presented by her husband, Phillip Roberts.
By 1990, there were 34 members, and Happy Christmas was awarded Life Membership.
In 1993, Michael Morley took over from George Cook as Chairman and Eddie Knapton became Match Secretary. Judy Caton who had been Treasurer for seven years had to retire due to ill health and Eddie’s partner Bridget took over.
In 1994 Brian Christmas, as Club Captain, introduced a new competition on short lawns for new recruits, called the Founders, with a trophy presented by the Evason sisters. Eddie Knapton became Secretary upon Happy Christmas’s retirement after 11 years.
A ladder competition was started in 1996, run by Brian and later by John Jennings. An early winner was Chris Donovan, who with Jim Penny in 2000 presented the Millenium Ladder trophy. Due to waning interest, this competition was reinvented in 2022 to become the Penny Matrix with the intention of encouraging more players, especially those with a high handicap, to join in and gain competition experience.
Shrewsbury Croquet Club joined the Croquet Association in 1984 and were encouraged to play in inter-club matches, although they found it a struggle to raise a team. Happy, Brian and Simon Christmas, George Cook, Paul Nutley, and Elaine Humphries were early members who represented the Club. The local clubs played against included Edgbaston, Stourbridge, Himley, Walsall, and Kenilworth. Of these, only Kenilworth and Shrewsbury survive as Association Croquet clubs, some of the others only playing Golf Croquet.
In 2000, three members of Church Stretton CC, who also played at Shrewsbury, Fred Smith, Peter Toghill and Julian Remfry, arranged for Church Stretton CC to challenge Shrewsbury CC to a match. They provided a trophy, the A49 Cup, and the trophy has been fought for nearly every year since.
By 2002, the Club had won the West Midlands Federation Croquet Club league for the first time of several subsequently, and then went on to enter national competitions, such as the Secretary’s Shield, the Longman Cup, and the Mary Rose, but although close at times never actually won any of them.
In 2002, Alan Knight became Chairman, with Eddie Knapton Secretary, John Jennings Treasurer, and Brian Christmas Club Captain. Jim Penny and Jenny Richardson became committee members. Stuart Ray took over as Secretary in 2003.
At the AGM in February 2007, Robbie Dodds was elected Secretary and Barbara Edwards joined the committee. Roger Hudson and Alan Smith were elected to the Committee.
At the 2008 AGM it was announced that George Cook had died. George with his wife Olive, was a founder member of the Club and had been Chairman and then President for many years. Happy Christmas was then elected President and Graham Colclough joined the committee. Complaints were made that the lawns were not fit for good quality croquet with the Council unwilling to do the necessary work.
The first 25 years of the Club was celebrated in July 2008 with a garden party at Chairman Alan Knight’s home. This was recorded by a full-page spread in the Shropshire Life magazine the following month.
Robbie Dodds retired as Secretary in 2009 and Graham Colclough took over. Roger Hudson and Alan Smith were re-elected to the Committee. In 2010 Peter Dorke became Chairman and donated £1000 towards lawn treatment, and in 2011 the new clubhouse was acquired and craned into place. John Jennings made the equipment trolleys to replace the old pram chassis previously used and Alan Smith made the portable stop boards.
At the 2012 AGM Happy Christmas announced his intention to retire as President, thus ending his association with the Club which he helped to start in 1983. Alan Knight also stood down, and Peter Dorke was elected Chairman.
The next major event occurred in 2012 when, by arrangement with the County Council who were the body responsible, the lawns were dug up, the ground levelled and returfed. Advice was taken from Cheltenham and Wimbledon as to what seed mixture should be used. The cost was £15000, of which £5000 was a grant from the Croquet Association, and a further large donation from Peter Dorke, with the remainder coming from the Club funds. The Town Council who maintained the football pitches and bowling green ignored the new croquet lawns which were growing fast. In desperation, Graham Colclough, the Club Secretary, arranged for a team from Hawkestone Golf Club to come and mow the lawns. The Council have maintained them ever since. A water supply to the cabin was connected during that year. Brian Christmas retired. He had been Club Captain and general factotum since the Club was founded, and in recognition of this the Club presented him with a smart new croquet mallet to mark his 50th birthday. He had already received the Croquet Association Certificate of Merit. Membership fees were increased to £50 per year.
Peter and Graham stood down at the 2014 AGM, and Jim Penny took over as Chairman and Barbara Edwards as Secretary. Peter took over as President. The following year David Fathers installed the lighting in the clubhouse and Stuart Ray continued to maintain the website.
At the 2016 AGM, Jim Penney was elected President and Julian Remfry Chairman. June Jennings was elected Treasurer. The McMillan Bennet Cup presented to the Club in 1987 was beyond repair, and a new cup in memory of David Latto would become the trophy for the winner of the Club Championship. At the annual match for the A49 Cup against Church Stretton, there was a dispute concerning the interpretation of the rules, the matter went to arbitration, and it was agreed that there would be no winner that year. It was also agreed that the A49 Cup and Federation Competition matches should be played on separate occasions and not combined as previously. Permission was received from the Council to erect a Club sign, and this was put in place in time for the start of the 2017 season. Julian Remfry presented a trophy, known as The Chairman’s Rose Bowl, for the Advanced Knockout Competition.
At the 2017 AGM, Jim and Ursula Penny were both elected as Honorary Members.
In 2018, Peter Dorke and Graham Colclough presented a glass claret jug as the trophy for the Advanced Competition and James Handley made a plinth for it. Graham took over updating the website from Stuart Ray.
At the 2020 AGM Julian Remfry was elected President and Alan Smith Chairman. Barbara Edwards continued as Secretary. June Jennings retired as Treasurer due to ill health, and Chris Medd was elected in her place. Geraint Howells and Philip Extance were elected to the committee. The hoops had been powder coated before the season started, and James Handley designed and made magnetic clips.
The Covid epidemic struck in March 2020 which severely restricted play during the 2020 season. A committee meeting was held remotely by Zoom and further meetings were held using the appropriate social distancing. Guidelines were drawn up to allow the Club to operate safely and legally. Most competitions were successfully completed apart from the Ladder. Geraint procured an eye-catching banner which was fixed on the back of the clubhouse facing the playing field. Alan Smith represented the Club in a sports quiz on Radio Shropshire, reaching the final. The Annual Presentation Lunch, organised by Graham for many years, was cancelled. Members’ fees were held over to the following year. The Council removed the two club shelters, as they were alleged to encourage anti-social behaviour, and the hedge along the fencing opposite the clubhouse. There was no AGM in 2021.
At the 2022 AGM Alan Smith resigned as Chairman, and Philip Extance was elected. It was reported that both Eddie Knapton and Renee Christmas, Happy Christmas’s widow, had died during the year. After prolonged negotiations with the Council, James Handley designed and built a new shelter which was lockable when not in use.
2023 was marked by the Club’s 40th Anniversary Celebration held on the Club lawns on 21st May. An exhibition doubles match to advanced rules was played whilst the members enjoyed a lavish lunch in glorious sunshine. In November 2023, at the Annual Presentation Lunch, Alan Smith summarised the history that he had unearthed of croquet in Shrewsbury prior to the First World War.
Written by Julian Remfry 06/02/24.