Opening of Pontefract's refurbished facilities ...     July 2008

A large crowd of Pontefract members and their friends were at the club last Saturday to see Peter Nicol officially open the recently refurbished courts and men's changing facilities.   Peter and James Willstrop played on the new glass-backed court and in the absence of Lee Beachill, who fell heavily earlier in the day during a practice match with Adrian Grant, doing himself considerable damage. Peter and James joined forces with Kirsty McPhee and Spanish no.1 Elizabeth Sado for a mixed doubles challenge. The refurbishment was made possible by funding provided by the efforts of Marie Rutherford (Sport England), Jim Lord and Mark Shipley (England Squash) and a generous donation by Scottish and Newcastle breweries, all of whom were present.  Club owner Michael Todd was keen to praise the efforts, too, of his board of directors: Gill and Giles Choyce, Simon Smith, Terry Dudley, Jayne Robinson, Richard Bramall and Ian Bateman. To mark the occasion Peter was made an honorary member of the club and in his speech he praised the excellent new facilities and the club for its success with children, many of whom were present, and for its strong family and social base.

Photo gallery from David Kennedy