Dearly departed,
always remembered Frances Baxter
Ham Polo Club was sad to lose one of its most stalwart supporters on 4th March. Frances, a keen horsewoman, fi rst came to Ham fi fty years ago. After various moves during her working life, in 1997 she fi nally retired from teaching in Liverpool (at the age of 70) and returned to London.
Since then she regularly travelled to Ham on Sundays from her home in North London, stopping off at Kew gardens en route, and arriving at the club in time to enjoy an afternoon watching the polo, renewing acquaintances with old friends and making new ones.
Undeterred by the vagaries of British Rail she continued with her weekly visit to Ham after she moved to Eastbourne in 2002.
A serious stroke two years ago temporarily curtailed her activities but she fought determinedly to overcome this setback and was happily reunited with all her friends at Ham when, on 1st August 2010, she returned with her family and its newest member – her great grand daughter to do what she loved the most - watch the polo whilst tucking into a tasty lunch in congenial surroundings.
Despite (shortly after that special day) learning that she had a terminal illness, she remained stoic to the end and her last words were “Send my love to all.” Such a thoughtful and lovely lady for whom we shall ever hold fond memories.
The London Polo Club
Brian Terry Brian came to Ham Polo Club around 1992 with his old `Army Green’ Bedford Van and matching caravan which he had lovingly painted by hand. We were always sure that he was a frustrated SAS trooper who had missed his vocation in life.
After a while it was a natural progression, with his preference for four-legged animals and birds over the rest of the human race, that he should guard our stables, clubhouse and grounds.
It then became apparent that he wanted to look after the grounds and it’s relevant machinery and he soon became a wizard on the tractor, mowing the one polo pitch we then had. As time went by he took on many duties, hedge cutting, minor repairs and then taking on the second polo fi eld when we purchased it back in 1995. Back then we did not have the watering system we now have and it was always an uphill struggle to keep the ball rolling, but Brian managed extremely well.
Brian had a very gruff manner which some found quite intimidating, but which was extremely useful when we had intruders into the grounds, which had been a regular occurrence. He would scare them off with baseball bat in hand and a string of unsavoury expletives that soon sent trespassers packing. Under this crusty exterior was a very kind and gentle man who had been battered by the confl icting currents of the world, and although many would fi nd this hard to believe, a few of us were lucky enough to discover this inner charm.
Over the last two years it became increasingly apparent that he was unwell and slowly his decline took away the strength for him to do heavy work, which was when we took on Charlie Ham to help him. But he would seldom relinquish his tractor for mowing - that was his baby with which he gave us enviably green and almost perfect playing pitches. He leaves big boots to fi ll.
Our sincerest thanks to Brain for his true loyalty to the Club, which became his only home and Family - He will be sadly missed but certainly not forgotten
65
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76