Ed,

I started writing weekly news reports about croquet ten years ago, first for the Examiner, later for the Independent. I have written over 450 weekly bulletins, about 120,000 words. Now in my mid eighties, I have decided to retire and leave it to someone else.

When I started writing there were only half a dozen people in the Clarence Valley playing croquet. Now in five clubs there are over two hundred. This growth has come about through several factors: the enthusiasm of players being one. 

But a very important factor is the publicity you give to croquet in your sports page’s week after week. I give my sincere thanks for this support. It spreads not just to croquet players, but for every player there are several friends and relatives who read the croquet news every week to see what their friends have done. One of our most valuable players was Frank Mack. He passed a year ago but told me a dear friend came up to him in the street and asked was he feeling better? Frank replied, “why did you think I was ill?”. His friend replied, “you have not been mentioned in the Independent for weeks.”

I know this applies to all the other sports which you cover. It is a huge boon to sport in the Clarence. In repeating my thanks for all you do for Croquet and other Sports; may I have one last push to get more people active in this wonderful sport of croquet. If you are intrigued about ‘pegging out’, or hoop to hoops, Up to 4, Jump shots, bisques, pennants, OBE’s, double taps, ricochets, cannons and peels and continuation, then this is my last plea for you to get out to Coutts Crossing on Monday, Thursday or Saturday between 9 and 9:30, every week of the year, to meet some great people.

Once again thank you Independent for all you do for sport. 

Peter Martin,

Coutts Crossing Croquet Club