Farewell Eddie Ault
Eddie and Ann have been loyal members of Seacourt since the late 1960s and have remained avid games players. Eddie played squash and lawn tennis and, enthusiastically, took up Real Tennis and Rackets becoming proficient at both games.
With Glyn Edmunds, in the late 80s they held the record for completing two separate marathons of playing Real Tennis and Rackets on every court in the UK in the shortest time. This typified Eddie’s attitude – playing games for fun and enjoyment whilst engaging in healthy exercise.
Eddie served on the Real Tennis Committee for many years, painted the ‘Mary Rose’ portrait on the Grille opening and with Ann, makes the wicker baskets holding the Tennis balls. Woe betide any member seen throwing the basket! They remained loyal benefactors of the Silver Racket fund and great spectators of club matches and tournaments. Eddie represented the Club in the Brodie Cup and many other matches over the years, and as a traditionalist only started putting grips on his rackets in the 21st century.
Eddie was born and schooled in Argentina, where his father Noel (later to be a Seacourt Member and photographed playing Tennis in his 90th year), an English vet, had worked during the war in the meat trade. He completed national service with the Argentinian army and spoke fluent Spanish when he arrived in the UK.
With an agile mind and of great intelligence, he enjoyed a wide range interests and talents. He loved boats, the sea and all forms of sailing, and was for many years Hon Sec at MRSC. He owned a diverse range of craft from his beloved ‘Florence’ an old clinker day boat to a single skull rowing boat used for exploring the creeks adjacent to their home on quiet days. He had a rib - powered by an enormous outboard. He used to whizz down to Poole to visit his daughter Lizzie and his grandchildren – much quicker than by car. He enjoyed ocean sailing, making two Atlantic crossings and other notable cruises and passages. His love of engines and unharnessed power, led him to own motor-cycles and more recently a TVR drophead. He enjoyed open road motoring and especially enjoyed the thrill of driving through the high mountain passes of France, Italy and Spain – often in convoy with an old chum in his Porsche.
For one holiday he took his son Billie to America. He passed his Private Pilots Licence there, and they hired a small aircraft, flying around New York State (Past the twin Towers) and exploring New England – Nantucket and the Islands.
Eddie cycled and enjoyed walking and swimming. He founded the local Philosophy club. He loved playing Piano Jazz.
Nick Danby