PNBHS 1951-55 – Gordon Club

Charlie first made the school’s Senior A tennis team in 1953 and was part of the school team that won the Manawatu Junior and Slazenger Sheild in 1954. He was in the Gordon tennis team with one Phil Skoglund. In 1955 he lost in the school double final with Warren Satherley as his partner but he and Warren were able to have their revenge in the final of the Manawatu Secondary School Championships.

But it was in squash, of course, where he was to make his mark. Only 5ft 3in, he became a giant of the game in NZ through the 60s. Charlie won the national title on five successive occasions, 1960-1964 and was runner up 1965. He became the first New Zealand squash player to be a nationally noted sports star. Charlie’s wife, Megan (nee Burmeister), was also a national champion. He was a national representative from 1961-71.

Controversy erupted when Australian, Dick Carter, was given 50 pounds by an over-enthusiastic NZ Squash Management Committee, toward his expenses to get to Masterton in 1965, which stopped Charlie’s inevitable 6th title.

In 2010 Charlie was inducted into the NZ Squash Hall of Fame.