Squash continues to go from strength to strength at the College with three teams qualifying for this year’s National Schools Championships Plate Finals competition and both girls and boys are involved in this growing sport and talent pool.
Recently Clare Davison, the wife of donor and OB John Davison (E 54- 59) returned to the College to present a new trophy – the Davison Cup – in honour of her late husband. Upon presenting the award to this year’s winner Charlotte (M), Clare was given a tour of the squash facilities and saw the new Davison Cup Honours Board, celebrating the best female squash player at Bradfield each year since the inaugural tournament in 2019.
Accompanying Clare on her visit were Bradfieldian Alasdair Johnston (A 55-60) with his wife Chrissie who all met the Headmaster prior to presenting the trophy.
Amazingly Clare and Chrissie shared a flat in London before they met their future husbands when Alasdair and John became firm friends at Bradfield. Clare even took on the role of bridesmaid when Chrissie married Alasdair.
John Davison was a keen all-round sportsman at Bradfield playing in many sports during his time in Mr Price’s E House. His Valete notes him as a member of the Choir throughout his time at Bradfield, a member of the squash team 1957-59 and Captain in 1959 as well as 1stXI cricket 1957- 59, 1stXI football 1958-59, 1stXI hockey 1959 and part of the Games Committee in 1958-59.
At Bradfield, the boys have played squash for the Warnford-Davis Cup since 1949 which was conceived when Old Bradfieldian and parent at the time, Roy Warnford-Davis (1906-11) established a whole school squash fixture and Cup. His sons Dennis (A 44-47) and Peter (A 45-49) both played Squash competitively during their time at Bradfield.
This year the finalists, Otis (A) and Crofton (C), played a closely fought clash with the latter winning the trophy for the third time during his time Bradfield career. Clare’s husband John was also a three-time winner between 1957-59 and she was thrilled to be able to present the Warnford-Davis Cup to Crofton during her visit too. The names of everyone who has won it over the years appear on the two Honours Boards which are also in the Squash Courts.
We have very few photographs of Squash at Bradfield in the College Archive. If anyone has any squash team photographs which they would like to share we would love to hear from you at bradfieldsociety@www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk
