Memorials

Craig Beck

Michael Holm:  I’m writing this on behalf of Craig, who unfortunately left us at the still young age of 22, due to cancer. Craig’s father and my father worked together for many years and our families knew each other well for as long as I could remember. My memory may well fail me in certain details so please anyone feel free to correct the record. Craig was incredibly talented in many areas, chosen to sing the solo in the choir as a boy, opening bat and bowler in cricket, flyhalf in rugby, sprinter and long-distance runner in athletics, but eventually, he chose to focus on tennis, at which he excelled from U/10 onwards. At school, he was well-liked and a natural leader. After matriculating, he did his two years national service, in Pretoria and Namibia, much of the time being able to continue playing tennis. In Namibia, he rose to number 2 in the country if memory serves me correct. After finishing the army, he won a tennis scholarship to the USA, San Diego as far as I know. There, he told me, when he first arrived, he didn’t really know what was going on as the competitiveness on the court was at another level. He was in the top four at his college but needed to be in the top two to attain a full scholarship. He was greatly impressed with his coach, who would scream at him to get to the net as fast as possible (which I thought Craig was quite good enough at doing before he went there!). He did eventually beat the number 2 but began doing various odd jobs, stringing tennis rackets and suchlike. Meeting him at a cricket match at St Georges Park on a return trip to PE, he spoke of how much he liked America, as there people were willing to give anything a go and put money behind ventures. His accent had a distinct American twang, which he didn’t enjoy my teasing about. That was perhaps the last time I saw Craig, but I am sure everyone will have fond memories of him.