Nigel Gray is remembered

[<<] [>>] by Duncan Hector
5th August 2003 (Other News)

I am sorry to bear the news that Nigel Gray died on 2nd August.

He was a founder member of Letchworth Croquet Club and Secretary for many years. He played croquet right to the end, participating in the Letchworth Golf Croquet tournament last Tuesday and having his last game of Association Croquet on Thursday.

Nigel was instrumental in the creation of a Hertfordshire team to compete in the Inter Counties and travelled on a worldwide basis to play croquet. He did nothing by halves having been one of the best cyclists in Great Britain and British Team manager in his younger days, he became an expert in wine appreciation and could name the origin of a wine within 2 feet, he was a leading light in Hitchin town twinning and in croquet he reached an A class handicap and served on the CA Handicap Committee. Since his stroke a year or two ago he lost his speech but managed to he master the word "bu*r" which was used when he blobbed a hoop.

I will miss his presence on our lawns. His physical condition had meant that he was prone to illegal take-offs, hugely crushed hoop runs, yet he still had the ability to pull a fantastic break out of the hat just when you were feeling really sorry for him. I will remember him for his dogged perseverance and am very sorry to have lost a good friend.