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Are diamonds found in Yorkshire? The answer is yes if you knew Brian Booth.
Although Yorkshire born he was a Sundridge Park man. His history and involvement with the club over forty years is probably known better by others.
I knew Brian through my involvement, over twenty years, playing in the Course Doubles Squash every Sunday evening under the direction of ‘Arry Bash' and ‘Fairy'. In those days all the members of the Course Doubles were given a pseudonym.
Brian, a mainstay of the evening, went under the name of ‘Bomber' and ‘The Alchemist'.‘Bomber' came about because of his national service in the Royal Air Force, and ‘The Alchemist' because he was forever searching for the perfect pint.
On a Sunday I was often partnered with Brian with me playing on my forehand on the right and Brian playing on his on the left. Brian's touch, his dinks and boasts are legend ~ but for all his technical brilliance he was a failure because he spent many years trying to improve my squash and never succeeded.
In the latter years of the Course Doubles many were elevated to the Peerage. ‘Bomber' became ‘Lord Chelsfield' mixing in the company of ‘Lord Hill Bowell' and ‘Sir Terence de Blurter'.
Those Sunday evenings were good days where we played together, ate together and drank together. Brian was always the first to put his hand in his pocket and, very often, would be there at the end.
Lord Chelsfield will be missed but it was a pleasure knowing him ~ he was a Diamond.

Reg Parks

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On 10 October Brian Booth passed away unexpectedly while on holiday with his wife Sheila. He joined the Club in 1962 and very soon met Sheila who was a tennis member. He took part in every aspect that the club has to offer, especially as a squash and social member and was in very good form when he attended one of the club's centenary events - the reunion on 3 August. Brian was also Honorary Treasurer for several years during the 1990's.

Brian will be greatly missed perched on the bar stool with a glass of the club's best ale in his hand. No doubt his son Richard will be carrying on in his father's footsteps - or should we say "sitting on his father's perch"!

Mariska Adamson

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