Francis Elliston Erwood (1824–1878) was designated in the Guinness Book of Records[1] the first closed court Rackets world champion.
The title passed to amateur/gentleman player William Hart-Dyke in 1862 after another two-match duel, when the prize money was only £100.
His older brother, George Erwood, was of a similar mould and in 1860 was the new racket master at Hampstead.
Marrying in 1855, Frank had four children, the daughters of whom emigrated to Canada and the USA; his son followed him into the business of racquet and ball making.
Frank's winning racquet was for many years kept by one of his descendants, but it is now believed to reside at one of the squash clubs in Bromley, Kent.