Life Members

Dorothy Bull

President Kay Anderson presenting Dorothy Bull with York Croquet Club Life Membership on Monday 28th October 2024.

Eric Ayling

On Saturday 21st November, 2020, Eric Ayling was made a life member of the York Croquet Club.  The presentation was made by our other life member, Pat McGregor, at a dinner for the club members.

Eric Ayling joined York Croquet Club soon after moving to York in December 2000.  He initially played golf croquet (GC), but, after much badgering from Les Gibbney, tried his hand at Association Croquet (AC).  Eric was quickly smitten with the AC bug.

Eric moved quickly through the ranks and has won, on at least one occasion, every open AC event on the croquet calendar.  He has been club AC champion on numerous occasions as well as club golf champion.  in 2006, he was selected for the State AC team, and has been a member of the team every year since.  He is one of only 5 players in the history of the game in WA to have executed a sextuple peel in competition.

Eric is also an accredited coach and referee in both AC and GC.  He also served for a time State AC Development Squad coach and was the State AC Coaching Director for 5 years.  He is a member of the State Selection ad Match sub-committees.

At York Croquet Club, Eric has served as president (on 3 occasions), vice president and secretary.  However, he regards the building of the new clubhouse, for which he served as project manager and "Trade Assistant", as his most significant achievement.

Pat McGregor

Pat McGregor joined the York Croquet Club on 5th March 1983.  Between 5th March 1983 and 31st December 2009, Pat held executive positions for more than 20 years.  Pat was a willing worker and was one of the first to offer to do anything required for the club. 

The York Croquet Club Inc. has recognised Pat's outstanding contribution to the club and awarded her Life Membership on 31st December 2009.

Les Gibbney

Les Gibbney, our second known life member,  will be fondly remembered as our only male member for several years when it was not the done thing for men to play croquet in York. 

He served the club in various capacities as President, Secretary, Captain and Greenkeeper.  He freely admitted he knew nothing about growing grass, but was given plenty of conflicting advice from gardeners among the members, most of which he ignored.  He was happy to volunteer when needed and definitely pulled his weight as a club member. 

He enjoyed Association Croquet and progressed quite quickly from novice to division 2 and was always prepared to help others with the finer points of play. 

He will be remembered for reciting lengthy poems with very little encouragement but his enduring legacy for the York Croquet Club are his words for the club song

set to the music of The Men Of Harlech, which he loved to sing at every given opportunity. 

Lots of memories Les.

Eileen Inkpen

Eileen  Inkpen was a very active member of York Croquet Club particularly during the 1950s and 1960s.