Players past and present came together this month to celebrate a remarkable milestone in the history of Berkhamsted School Fives: the centenary of the Castle Eton Fives courts.  

Eton Fives is a beloved cornerstone of sport at Berkhamsted, offering pupils the chance to play a traditional sport focused on integrity, teamwork and honesty. Berkhamsted has also racked up quite a few successes in the sport- already this year we have celebrated two national titles, one in Eton Fives and the other in Rugby Fives, a variation of the game. 

The Fives courts were originally converted from bat fives courts in March 1926, and have undergone significant changes over the past century. A roof was added in the 1950s, and successive improvements and renovations have created the modern facilities enjoyed by today's players. One hundred years on, the courts remain at the heart of a thriving Fives community.  

The centenary celebrations were marked during Berkhamsted School's two annual Fives tournaments, which brought together pupils, staff, Old Berkhamstedians and members of the wider Fives community, starting with the annual Scholars and Rogues tournament and concluding on Sunday 21 June with the Derek Whitehead Tournament, an event established in 2015 in honour of one of the school's most dedicated supporters of Fives.

The event is named after an Old Berkhamstedian who founded the OB Fives Club, and sees current pupils paired with either an Old Berkhamstedian or a member of the Tuesday evening Fives community.  

Twenty-one pairs competed throughout the day, with experience and youth combining to produce some excellent matches. In the Cup Final, Adam and Shlok M narrowly defeated reigning champions Roland and Harry S to claim the title.  

Bowl Final: Barney and Lucas diC prevailed over Quentin and Will L-E. 

Plate Final: Dennis and Micah L defeated Adam and Josh B.   

In reflecting on the event, Fives coach Andrew Stepehnson commented,  

“The centenary celebrations provided an opportunity not only to reflect on the history of the courts but also to celebrate the vibrant community that has grown around them. Over the past 100 years, generations of Berkhamstedians have learned, competed and forged lasting friendships on these courts.  

We were delighted to have Derek in attendance who shared his memories of Berkhamsted fives and really brought the game to life. It was a pleasure to welcome Nigel who was the brainchild of the original event. The post Tournament BBQ enabled all to share stories of what could have been on the day and also exchanged memories of days gone by.   

The success of both tournaments demonstrated that Fives continues to thrive at Berkhamsted School. As the courts enter their second century, they remain a place where tradition, competition and community come together ensuring that the legacy of the past 100 years will continue for many more to come.  

As part of the day, Doug Foster gave a short speech, details of which are below:

It is wonderful to see so many people gathered here today: Old Berkhamstedians, current and former staff, parents, pupils and friends of the club. The fact that such a varied group has come together says something about these courts and about the game of Fives itself. 

Today we celebrate the centenary of the Castle courts. One hundred years ago, somebody had the foresight to build them. I doubt they could have imagined quite how many people would pass through them over the next century, or how many matches, friendships and memories they would help create. 

Over those hundred years, the fortunes of Berkhamsted Fives have naturally ebbed and flowed. There have been periods of great success and periods when the game has been sustained by a smaller number of dedicated enthusiasts. During the 1970s and 1980s, Paul Dicker helped establish Berkhamsted as a national force, coaching a succession of outstanding schoolboy players and teams. More recently, 3x Kinnaird winner, Denys Firth's generosity helped fund the Prep School courts, laying the foundations for a remarkable revival under Martin Pett, George Campbell, Ryan Perrie and Anthony Theodossi, culminating in national success across every age group and the return of the U18 title after more than forty years. 

But perhaps the real achievement is not the trophies. The real achievement is that each generation has handed the game on to the next. Players, coaches, parents, staff and Old Berkhamstedians have all played their part in ensuring that these courts remain busy and that new players continue to discover the game. 

One of the things I love about Fives is its simplicity. A ball, a pair of gloves, a court and another person willing to play. A century later, these courts are still doing exactly what they were built to do: bringing people together through sport, friendship and community. 

Today's competition is played for the Derek Whitehead Trophy. Derek's contribution to Berkhamsted Fives over many decades, including founding the OB team in 1948, embodies that same spirit of service and stewardship. It is entirely fitting that we celebrate this centenary in his name. 

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Berkhamsted Fives over the years, to Andy Stephenson and Chris Davey for organising and thank you all for being here today. Here's to the first hundred years of the Castle courts and to the next hundred.