Anthony Thomas Letchworth, (Tony), Consultant Gynaecologist, was a stalwart member of the Wessex Fives Club for some 15 years. He died prematurely in 1994. As a mark of respect and to commemorate his skills as a player and as a friend, members of the club made donations and a handsome silver bowl was purchased. This was named the Letchworth Bowl.
Every year since 1977, there has been an end of season tournament. Players are divided into 2 groups - one group consists of the stronger, more experienced players and the other group - the less experienced. Pairs are then drawn "out of a hat" - so who wins is very unpredictable. The winners, though, invariably have to work hard!
Since 1995, the winners receive the Letchworth Bowl. Almost always, Tony's widow, Gis Letchworth comes to the post-tournament supper and presents the trophy. A plate has been attached to the base of the Bowl's plinth, recording all the tournament winners since 1977 - from which it can be seen how many times Tony Letchworth himself was victorious.
PAST WINNERS
1977 Peter Summerhayes & Hugh Hammersley
1978 Peter Whelan & Nigel Cox
1979 Nigel Hind & Frank Akerman
1980 Mick Summerhayes & Nigel Cox
1981 Tony Letchworth & Frank Akerman
1982 David Dance & Mansell Jagger
1983 David Bartlett & Tony Letchworth
1984 George Bowyer & Nigel Cox
1985 Jamie Orchard & Frank Akerman
1986 Richard Moxon & Frank Akerman
1987 Ian Levitt & Richard Moxon
1988 Tony Wolstenholme & George Bowyer
1989 Tony Letchworth & Richard Moxon
1990 Nigel Cox & Tony Letchworth
1991 John Morris & Chris Gibb
1992 David Horn & Jamie Orchard
1993 Harry Akerman & Alex Orchard
1994 Terry Morrison & Graham Gardner
1995 Jonathan Morris & Tony Wolstenholme
1996 Nick Duggan & Tony Wolstenholme
1997 Keith Whale & Nick Wolstenholme
1998 Graham Gardner & Charles Kennedy
1999 Tim Caroe & Chris Levoi
2000 David Horn & Greg McGovern
2001 Alistair Hellewell & Harry Akerman
2002 Richard Summerfield & Angus Hemmings
2003 Simon Swales & Michael Heard
2004 David Spiegal & Mick Summerhayes
2005 Tony Wolstenholme & Albie Healey
2006 Toby Marshall and Albie Healey
2007 Will Ellison and Geoffrey Hammond
2008 Will Ellison and Ben Graham Evans
2009 Hal Mohamed and Alex Burns
2010 Julian Pearce-Smith and Alex Burns
2011 Jamie Orchard and Toby Marshall
2012 Simon Swales and Paul A'Hearn
2013 Ben Hale and David Spiegal
2014 Fred Kelly and Jonathan Russell
2015 Pete Kullavanijaya and Alec Younger
2016 Ed Hawke and Nigel Gainsborough
2017 Bev Boag and Dave Butler
2018 Giles Munn and Chris Jack
2019 Giles Munn and Wendy Carling
2020 COVID
2021 COVID
2022 Rob Moore and Matt Hale
2023 Ed Hawke and Jonathan Jesty