Members of Penrith Squash Club, new and old, gathered together to say farewell to stalwart 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 members were keen to celebrate his time by putting on a fun afternoon of squash followed by a celebratory meal at the nearby Cross Keys Inn which was also attended by members of the Penrith Rugby Club.
“As part of the celebrations, Chris’s long service was recognised by the renaming of both his favourite court and the club championship cup in his honour.
“The afternoon’s handicap squash competition, won by Craig Donald in a final against Dan Cook, wasn’t just about the game,” said a club spokesman.
“It was about honouring Chris Lilley, who embodied the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that defines the local squash community.”
John Scott, an organiser of the function, said: “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.”
Chris has been at the heart of Penrith Squash for over 40 years.
He has headed up the club as its chairman on a number of occasions as well as helping to maintain the fabric of the building and its courts, welcoming new members, organising teams and competitions to mention but a few.
Chris’s involvement at county level has also been extensive. And he has also been heavily involved with the rugby club as its treasurer for a number of years as well as helping in other areas.
