In a match against Bournemouth my partner was the redoubtable Mrs Waplington. She taught me all I know about cooking – which was how to boil an egg in a few minutes in 2 tablespoons of water.  She taught me how to mix a whiskey cocktail with Angostura bitters. She also, as a result of expressing my opinion about Ballet Dancing, taught me how to stay calm when she called me a “Moron with no aesthetic appreciation whatsoever.” However we remained good friends and tennis partners.  We had the drink in a pub just outside Bournemouth. On the wall was the ditty:-‘Twas a miracle divine, That changed water into wine, And so sad to see the ways of men, That want to change it back again.

Played Rugby for Yeovil on a regular basis. Scored 1st Try at Johnson Park a newly opened Sports facility. Played one game for South Somerset.

Eventually gave up Rugby because of injuries culminating in being tackled in a game against Bath. I was concussed and taken home where I woke up on the chair, not knowing why I was there until I saw the invitation card. Went back to the club and sank two pints of beer. I then went to see the doctor who said you are ok; don’t play for a few weeks and don’t drink!
Played Tennis for Yeovil 2nd Team.

Took up Squash. Played 5 times a week. Match captain of Yeovil Squash Club arranged and played in matches against:- RNAS Yeovilton, The Army at Tidworth, Bryanstone Public School, Bath University, and Poole Harbour Yacht  where post match drinks were quaffed and the delicate pink elephants on the bar carpet quickly became more distinct!).  In 1954 also arranged an exhibition match between Hashim Khan and his cousin Roshan at Yeovil Squash club. This took place in 1954.  I didn’t have a car so I cycled a lot and was reliant on lifts from friends one of whom was Frank from Crewkerne. We went on many trips sometimes with two girl friends. On one occasion we went to Burton Bradstock on the 1st Aug It was a great village celebration finishing up in the local pub. The road to it from Dorchester was beautiful but very hilly and Frank’s Austin 7 packed up on the hills so 3 of us had to get out; crank start the engine and push a lot. 
Went to Coppelia ballet Bournemouth Winter Gardens.

Frank later took my girlfriend and married her. In retrospect very fortuitous. and another proof of another quotation from Uncle Ted’s book :- Every Adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage!” (Some of my readers, (if there are still any out there,) will have heard this one Ad Nauseam. 

In 1952 took up tennis umpiring first in club matches followed by Tunbridge Wells final (Virginia Wade), Bristol West of England Championships, Bournemouth Hard Court Championships, Davis Cup matches Bristol, London Grass Court Championships at Queens Club, Wimbledon Qualifiers at Roehampton, Beckenham, Crystal Palace,  Professional Championships at Wembley Sports Arena, and Wimbledon, graduating from outside courts to approx.100 matches officiated 0n Centre Court.
I applied to take be a linesman at Wimbledon in 1952 but was not selected. However 3 days before the first Monday I received a telegram from the Referees office saying:- Can you Umpire Wimbledon reply immediately.