From one, to two, to 11, to 23. How HWCC began.

Playing at Bassetsbury

In the beginning...Wycombe District Council, owners of  Bassetsbury Manor,  decided to put a croquet court there to complement tennis and putting. It was available in the summer of 1981 but was little used.

A district councillor asked me what might be done. I advised contacting the Croquet Association. The result was a publicity session by Richard Rothwell and Alan Oldham of the CA on the court followed by press articles by me.
Discussions with Tony Westgate of WDC led to the idea of a club being formed..  

So, an inaugural meeting chaired by Tony Westgate was held at Bassetsbury Manor on 27th May 1982.  Eleven people were there. Richard and Alan outlined how a club might be formed and as a result on 20th June 1982 23 people attended a meeting,  with the aim 'to ascertain the support for the formation of a club to play croquet at Bassetsbury Manor.'

Passed unanimously. Officers elected. Then four days later another meeting to get started. Subscription £3 including 15p CA registration, agreement when the club could play and use WDC equipment and we were off!

The rest is history, as they say.

​David Gantzel

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