In the Spotlight
Hoping to be a regular feature, this page will spotlight a few players who should inspire others to take up the sport and/or continue with it well into their advancing years. It is intended to demonstrate that regardless of gender, age and ability, squash is a great sport for everybody.
Ken Reid
Predominantly a tennis and badminton player in his youth, Ken ‘discovered’ squash whilst studying at the University of Aberdeen in the 1960’s. Quickly becoming his favored racket sport, it was a great boon upon arriving at Oxford in 1969 to carry out Scientific Research at the Biochemistry Department to find how well stocked the city was with courts at both College and individual Clubs.`
Ken joined the Oxford Squash Club (OSC), which had access to six courts on the St Edward’s School grounds on the Woodstock Road. This site became the Douglas Bader Centre, then Esporta with the latest incarnation being The Oxfordshire Health and Racquets Club. With the OSC, he then played in the Oxfordshire Leagues from the early 1970’s to the mid 1980’s. During this time, he became closely involved with Oxfordshire Squash as both team captain and as Treasurer of the Association.
He was no mean performer, winning the now defunct Kidlington Open in 1983 and the Oxfordshire Over 45’s Cup in 1989. He also represented Oxfordshire in the Inter County Championships at all age groups from Over 45 to Over 65.
But retirement from his job with the Medical Research Council did not coincide with any slowdown in his desire to get on court – quite the opposite! Upon reaching the age of 70, Ken started to enter Squash Masters events throughout the British Isles with a few forays abroad. He became Scottish National Champion in both Over 70 and Over 75 categories and in 2019 won the European Over 75’s title in Vienna. He has represented Scotland internationally for the past 10 years.
Now an Octogenarian, he has ambitions to be an English National Champion having been runner up in the Over 80’s category recently. He is training hard and is determined to give it a few more go’s.
He finished 7th of 28 entrants in the World Squash Masters in Amsterdam in August of 2024 recalling the whole event as a memorable occasion with 1250 players, aged 35 to 80+, from all over the globe including North and South America, New Zealand, Australia together a with a surprisingly large South African contingent.
‘Squash has certainly played a major role in my life and brought many good friendships. It has caused me to visit many interesting and scenic parts of not just the UK and Ireland, but also mainland Europe, experiences I may well not have encountered without the squash being involved.’
Not a fan of rowing machines or indeed most gym equipment, Ken perceives squash as one of those sports which does provide an overall workout.
He should be an inspiration to all of us, especially those of an older persuasion. One piece of advice he offers is to try and play more regularly as the years advance – he manages at least 3 sessions a week. Now with The University Club, Ken still turns out for the team in competitive fixtures.
Away from squash, walking and cycling in the Lake District and Scotland form the main holiday pursuits whilst at home, gardening, reading and grandchildren occupy most of his off court time. He also confesses to a penchant for viewing scientific papers.
Ken’s quotes: ‘It has been a nice episode for me, looking down through memory lane, and realising that squash has indeed been a major positive throughout most of my adult life.’
Adrian Wright (in yellow), a man who once defeated the great Jonah Barrington and whom Ken had lost to every time they met over the past 10 years. He eventually beat him in February 2024 at the British Nationals, the Tournament Chairman describing proceedings thus, ‘A remarkable match that had a packed gallery applauding wildly.’
The Scottish Over 75’s team (captained by Ken) which won the 2019 Home Interrnational Tournament in Galway beating England along the way. The other 2 were both over 80 at the time!