FIVES RE-OPENING

A History of Fives

When Dr Pears became Headmaster of Repton in 1854, there was one roofless Fives court, dating from his predecessor’s time and located on the site of the present Marshal’s Lodge. Charles Peile (1846), the former Headmaster’s son, recalled that “we played at Fives, the court being inside the Arch and between that and our Paddock Gates”. Under Pears in 1863 the Old Fives Court was roofed and refloored and a second one built facing the Cricket Field, while Orchard and Latham were both lucky enough to enjoy courts of their own. There was plenty of enthusiasm for the game in the Masters’ Common Room. ‘Two or three times a week, George Messiter could be seen enjoying himself to the full, bounding about the Court, shouting with excitement and delivering his celebrated left-hand drives which came with a jerk, apparently from his left hip.’ George Clarke is described as a first-rate player and must have cut a striking figure on court in his braces and top hat. In 1895, under Headmaster William Furneaux, the court overlooking the Paddock was demolished to make way for the red-brick teaching block still at the heart of the School today, but new ones were built, and the sport continued to thrive.

The popularity of Fives at Repton greatly increased during Lionel Ford’s headmastership (1901-1910), Ford himself being an outstandingly good player. H.S. Altham recalled the ‘Jovian severity and good humour with which he would crush all opposition’ and a Housemaster, the Rev John Carter, wrote of him, “Up to the end of his time he was the best Fives player in the place and he did all he could to encourage that and other ‘by-games’. The current Fives courts at Repton were built over a three-year period during Ford’s headmastership.

Eight were erected in 1908 /1909 as part of the 350th Anniversary Memorial scheme by the Repton School Shop Ltd, at a cost of £1,881 5s. 9d, and a report from the June 1908 issue of The Reptonian declares: “As we write, the new Fives’ courts are under construction, and it would seem to be an opportune moment for us to express the hope that the keenness of the School for the game will steadily increase, and that it will not be confined to two or three houses, as is far too often the case.”

In 1910-11 further courts were erected to the plans of Mr Forsyth, the architect behind, among others, New House in 1909, the War Memorial and tablets, and the restoration of the Old Priory in the early 1920s. Still in use today, the block created by those energetic Edwardians provides no fewer than twelve courts – the fifth largest in the country - and offers an unparalleled opportunity to create an outstanding facility for current and future generations of players, and one worthy of the heritage of Fives at Repton.

Fives is not only an important part of our history, it is a game which is benefiting our pupils’ broader sporting development. In a recent symposium hosted in partnership between the Eton Fives Association and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Old Reptonian, former professional cricketer, and current Director of Cricket Operations at the ECB John Carr highlighted how the crossover of skills and techniques such as footwork, anticipation, body position and hand-eye coordination supports player development in sports such as cricket and hockey, two sports which are central to both our boys’ and girls’ sporting curriculum.

Reopening of the Fives Courts

Further to a successful fundraising campaign, led by Andrew Cook, Chief Commercial and Development Officer, the Fives Courts at Repton were officially re-opened on Saturday 13th November 2021. The re-opening allowed an opportunity to meet with, and say thank you to our generous donors.

With special thanks to both the Eton Fives Association and the Old Reptonian Society, as well as the families of former members of staff John Walker, Mike Charlesworth and Russell Muir and to ORs Robert Mackenzie (H’63) and Des Anderson (P’82) for their generous donations.

Headmaster, Mark Semmence, started proceedings by welcoming over 80 guests to the viewing terrace in the Kan Library. Guests enjoyed a stunning view of Chapel Hall, alongside the newly refurbished Fives Courts, bathed in the glorious autumn sunshine. Shortly after, viewers enjoyed the Eton Fives Association Exhibition Fixture, followed by the OR Eton Fives Club Fixture.

Whilst there is a need to evolve, innovate and adapt to the ever-changing environment in which we operate, it is equally important to promote and safeguard those traditions at Repton which have given its pupils an opportunity to broaden their horizons, build friendships, compete and create life-long memories.

We look to the future, and the reinvigoration of The Old Reptonian Eton Fives Club (OREFC). The now refurbished courts will provide an opportunity to host regional and national tournaments, whilst providing a first-class facility for individuals and organisations within the local and regional community to join Repton Rackets Club and play Fives alongside Tennis and Squash, and possibly Padel Tennis in the future.