Just over 38 years ago Cromer squash player Jeff Morris tragically died on court and the club decided to honour his memory by instigating a tournament for players aged 35 and over which was held for the first time in the autumn of 1985.

Apart from a six-year break around the turn of the century, and in 2020 when Covid was the winner, the tournament has been held every year since and this year was the 38th anniversary of that first tournament.

In the final last Friday, Richard Millman, who is in his mid-60s, who won the prestigious Norfolk County Closed championship eight times between 1984 and 1992 and is also the reigning Norfolk Over 55 champion rolled back the years when he became the 17th different player to win the title as he turned in a brilliant performance to defeat the 2017 club champion, Martin Guppy 3-0 in the final.

Both players were appearing in the Over 35 final for the first time and Millman, who was giving almost 30 years to some of the tournament’s younger players, freely admitted before the tournament started that he did not expect to win it.

However, he won both his quarter final and semi final matches without dropping a game and despite only being the No.2 seed he was simply too good and too skilful for the gallant Guppy who must have felt at times that he was chasing shadows.

He said afterwards: "I didn’t know Jeff Morris but from what I have heard he was a brilliant club man who did an awful lot for the club in its early days and it is great that the club continue to honour his memory in this way."

Jeff Morris’ son, Jeff junior was among the large number of spectators who watched the final and he presented the trophies to the winner and runner-up.

Technical director Barry Starling, who once again was prevented by injury from entering the tournament, said: “Over the years we have witnessed some tremendous finals and although this year’s was over relatively quickly it was a privilege to watch the master at work.

"I did feel sorry for Martin Guppy since he is a very good player – in fact you have to be to win the Cromer club championship – but he just had no answer to Richard tonight."

Next month the club will be holding its final tournament of the year when those players aged 45 and over will be bidding to win the club veterans’ title.