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Wrest Park

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Vic Rees 1926-2015

Vic Rees, the last surviving founder member of Wrest Park Croquet Club, died on 17th July. After his funeral in Wales a memorial service was held at the Baptist Church in Maulden on Monday 10th August.

Shortly after the club was formed in 1961 Vic’s practical side showed itself when he, together with John Wheeler and Harry Green, constructed four sets of mild steel hoops, as well as centre and corner pegs, which are still in use. He was a member of the teams which won the Longman Cup in 1964 and again in 1966.

Vic was arguably the club’s most successful player. In 1973 he and John Wheeler reached the final of the Open doubles, losing to Humphrey Hicks and John Soutter, and he qualified as a referee in the same year. The following year he was a member of the Wrest Park team, along with Harry Green, John Wheeler and Barry Keen, which won the Inter-Club Championship.

In 1977 Bedfordshire (aka Wrest Park) won the Inter County Championship after tieing with Middlesex the previous year. With Vic in the team were John Wheeler, Harry Green, Norman Davren, Tony Dumont, Eric Audsley and Barry Keen. Later that year the club built a pavilion next to the lawns for which Vic was the chief architect. The pavilion’s solid construction became apparent when it was dismantled and sold when the club moved to its new site in 2013.

Vic made five appearances in the Chairman’s Salver, starting in 1973. He progressed from second equal in 1975 and third equal in 1978 to finally winning it outright in 1980. He also won the club’s own Advanced Championship in 1989, the cup having been donated to the club by D.D. Steel.

The winning 1964 Longman Cup team. L-R Joe Clarke (7), Tom Marchant (9), Vic Rees (6) and Anto Davies (7).

The Bedfordshire team at the 1983 Inter Counties. L-R Vic Rees, Tony Dumont, Bryan Harral, Howard Bottomley, John Wheeler, Harry Green, Judy Anderson, Tom Anderson.

Vic behind the wheel of the new mower in 1994. This replaced a 36 inch Dennis dating from 1936, purchased in 1966 for £72/10/6d and finally sold in 1998 for a modest profit.

Vic continued to take an active interest in the club after he stopped playing. When a tournament or important match was taking place he would invariably turn up to watch, walking down from the mansion with ice cream in hand and taking a seat at the side of the lawn, always ready to comment on tactics and go out to referee if required. His contribution to the formation and continued success of the club was immense, and he is much missed.