Eric Marsh (1940-2017)

News

The RFA is sad to report the death, at the age of 77, of Eric Marsh. One of a generation of leading Fives players to emerge from St. Dunstan’s College in the late 1950s, Eric was Amateur Singles Champion in 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963. He was three times runner-up: in 1959 to Jonathan Smith; in 1967 to John Watkinson; and in 1968 to fellow Old Dunstonian John Howe.

Eric was a winner of the Cyriax Cup for Amateur Doubles in 1965 with David Gardner, another of the fine players to be produced by the College. He also was the winner of both the Singles and Doubles (with Stuart Tovey) at the first Universities Championships in 1960, representing Bristol University.

Eric was one of only two players ever to hold the Universities title and the Amateur Singles title (as the National Singles was known in his day) in the same season.

Eric was a schoolmaster. As master-in-charge of Fives at Alleyn’s School in Dulwich in the 1960s Eric was instrumental in setting David Hebden and his partner George Baker on the road to their many successes.

Eric was last seen by the Fives-playing community at the Memorial Service for Rick Wilson earlier this year. There, as always, Eric proudly wore his RFA tie.

Funeral Details: Family cremation at Shrewsbury Crematorium, followed by a Service at  St. Matthew’s Church, Criftins, Ellesmere, Shropshire. SY12 9LN. at 12.30. Monday  4th December.

Please note that Criftins village is also known as Dudleston Heath on maps and is on the B 5068 between Ellesmere and St. Martins.

Parking available in the village hall carpark.

After the service there will be a reception at the Lion Quays Hotel – SY11 3EN – on A5 north of Oswestry and a little beyond Gobowen.

A full tribute will be published here in due course.