The Jesters were founded in England in 1929 by a schoolboy, Jock Burnett, who wished to encourage the playing of racquet sports. The Jesters in England play not just squash, but also tennis, real tennis, fives and racquets. There is an active fixture list in all these sports which are played against other clubs and schools.
The Jesters is now a worldwide organization of over 3,000 members, most of whom are squash players. There are members in all Canadian provinces. Members are elected locally by the membership and candidates are selected on the basis of playing ability, sportsmanship and contribution to the game of squash.
The BC jesters meet on a social basis on a regular basis. They are actively involved with promoting junior squash, university play and they host an annual doubles tournament.
The Jesters Club is an international club of squash players and other sportsmen, with headquarters in London, England, having as its patron HRH Duke of Edinburgh. The club is dedicated in large part to the organization and promotion of squash racquets throughout the world and to the encouragement of the game at its most sporting best. Persons elected to membership in the club are selected from players who are considered to possess those personal qualities which will further the club’s high aims and objectives.
A branch of the Jesters Club was formed in British Columbia in 1956. The only two Jesters resident in BC at that time were E.R. (Ned) Larsen, Headmaster of Shawnigan Lake School, and Dr. Kemble Greenwood of Victoria, both of whom were members elected in England. At Ned Larsen’s instigation they entered into correspondence in 1955 with Harold Martin, then Canadian representative to the Jesters Club in England, regarding the formation of a BC nest.
The inaugural members of the BC nest – 1955:
- Ned Larsen (Chairman)
- Dr. Kemble Greenwood (Vice-Chairman)
- Brian Bell-Irving
- Harry Bell-Irving
- Dr. Bob Houston
- Ed Kemble
- Jack Larsen
- Jim Macken
- John Nicolls
The First General Meeting of the B.C. Jesters was held at Ed Kemble’s home in Vancouver on February 22, 1958. Since that date, the club has been very active in the promotion of squash racquets in British Columbia through the providing of coaching, exhibition matches and the general impetus for the construction of new court facilities.