We are sad to report that Derek Buxton, a stalwart of our club for decades, sadly passed away on April 8th at the age of 85.
Derek started playing croquet in the mid-1990s with his wife Eileen, when Ashby Croquet Club was still based at Hood Park in the town and we mostly played the Association version of the game, specifically short croquet due to our limited lawn space at the time.
Croquet formed a major part of Derek’s life over the next 25 years, regularly playing in AC and GC tournaments up and down the country, and inter-club matches. He was a member of Ashby’s winning squads in the 1997 National Short Croquet team competition and the 2010 Secretary’s Shield.
Derek was a key member of the Ashby club committee where he served as secretary for many years, and he also held various posts at Federation level in the East Midlands including Chairman and GC Leagues Manager. He took on numerous valued roles in the club including running tournaments; helping with lawn maintenance; organising Ashby teams for various national competitions; running taster sessions for outside groups; and passing on his croquet skills and encouragement to new club players including Arthur and Rachel. Derek was awarded a CA Diploma by the Croquet Association in 2005 for his services to croquet.
Despite his failing health in the last year or two, we are delighted that Derek was able to continue playing social games of croquet right up until the end of our winter season just a few weeks ago. Although a bit unsteady on his feet, the quality of many of his shots was still exceptional.
Derek was a true gentleman, and his name will live on in the club’s internal AC advanced competition which in recent years we have named in his honour in the form of the splendid glass Derek Buxton Trophy.
Our condolences go to Eileen and family.
