Peter Croft 1933 – 2021

We were saddened to learn that Peter Croft passed away peacefully at his Nursing Home in Cobham on Sunday, 18^th July. He was 88 years old.

Peter was an outstanding all-round sportsman. After gaining a hockey Blue at Cambridge University, he went on to captain our Men’s 1^st XI, Surrey, the South and the Ghosts Hockey Club during the late 1950s into the 1960s. In addition to his hockey prowess, Peter gained a cricket Blue at Cambridge, where he played first-class cricket from 1955 to 1957. He also played at that level for the Free Foresters in 1956. Alongside his hockey and cricketing prowess, Peter was an accomplished golfer, playing for many years to a low single-figure handicap.

He achieved international hockey honours representing England in the 1959 European Club Championships in Berlin and Great Britain at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Following his retirement from playing, Peter was an active supporter of both our Men’s and Ladies’ 1^st XI squads travelling to most parts of the UK and also following several of the teams’ European endeavours.

The Croft family have been an intrinsic part of the life of Surbiton Hockey Club for almost seven decades. Peter’s brother, George, who sadly passed away in 2012, played alongside him in our Men’s 1^st XI and was Club Captain from 1974 to 1978 and Club President from 2002 to 2006. The third generation of Crofts continue the family’s involvement with the Club with Peter’s grandchildren Chloe and Ollie and George’s granddaughter, Amber, all active members of our Junior Section.

Details of Peter’s funeral will be advised in due course.

Surbiton HC (with thanks to Keith Wallis, Colin Pike & David Henry Jones)