Sir Michael Edwardes 1930 - 2019

England Squash was saddened to hear of the recent death of former President Sir Michael Edwardes, aged 88.

Sir Michael, an industrialist who in the 1970’s took the helm and restructured the British Leyland car manufacturer became President of the then named Squash Rackets Association (SRA) in 1991, and served three years before Jonah Barrington succeeded him in 1994.

He was diminutive in stature, but a pugnacious operator in business, and a fine leader of the SRA as well as for the Veterans Club of Great Britain, for whom he served as President for 13 years.

South African born Edwardes would play squash up to four times a week even while in the most demanding of roles, and had a special interest in doubles.

In 1986, he led experimentation of different widths for a doubles court, and having decided that 4ft wider than a singles court seemed best, went ahead in1988 to have the first doubles courts built to that dimension at the RAC Country Club at Epsom. Some while afterwards the WSF agreed that 25ft would become the standard width worldwide.

Doubles width was also added to the RAC Club in London where he continued playing doubles, especially with long time partner Toddy Berman, through to his later years.

England Squash condolences are with his wife Sheila and their daughters and grandchildren.

In the news

The Telegraph: Sir Michael Edwardes, pugnacious chairman of British Leyland who won the backing of the workforce to break the power of the shop stewards – obituary

The Times: Sir Michael Edwardes obituary

The Guardian: Sir Michael Edwardes obituary