On Saturday 16th September members of Penrith Squash Club, new and old, gathered together to say its farewell to Chris Lilley who has been part of the fabric of the club for over 40 years.
Chris, who is moving south with his wife to be closer to his grandchildren, has been the backbone of Penrith Squash and member’s wished to celebrate his time by putting on a fun afternoon of squash followed by a celebratory meal at the Cross Keys Inn which was also attended by members of the Penrith Rugby Club
As part of the celebrations his long service was recognized by renaming both his favourite court and the club championship cup in his name.
The afternoons handicap squash competition, won by Craig Donald in the final against Dan Cook, wasn’t just about the game; it was about honoring Chris Lilley, who embodied the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that defines the local squash community.
John Scott, one of the organisers of the event commented by saying ‘ The whole event was not just an ordinary gathering; it was a celebration that brought together members of the Penrith Squash Club both competitively and socially as well as support from the Penrith rugby club which showed testament to Chris’s wide-reaching impact.
Chris will be sadly missed not so much for his bad jokes but for someone you could always count on for a friendly game or a word of encouragement, win or lose or a host to welcome new members to our friendly club. We wish him well’
A Great turn out to give Chris the send off he deserved.
The afternoons handicap squash competition was won by Craig Donald in the final against Dan Cook.