Portrait of Lance Kinder in England Squash outfit, 2012
Country	United Kingdom
Residence	Hampshire, UK
Born	(1935-10-02)2 October 1935 Allahabad, India
Died	December 14, 2023(2023-12-14) (aged 88) Basingstoke, UK
Height	5.6 ft (171 cm)
Retired	Mar, 2022
Plays	Squash
Highest ranking	World No.1

Lance Kinder, (born 2 October 1935, in Allahabad) took up veterans Squash in his 40s and rose to Number 1 in the world winning many titles including the British Open and the World Masters.^[1] Kinder's record includes having played Squash 72 times for his country since 1992 and only losing once,^[2] winning World Championships ^[3] and many global squash competitions - many after having a heart attack in his early 60s. Kinder gave much to the sport including holding the Vice-Presidency of the Veterans Squash Rackets Club of Great Britain since 2006.^[4] He was also the instigator for the creation of the British National Open and Closed tournament categories for the Over-60s, 65s, 70s, 75s and 80s age groups.

Playing career

Born 2 October 1935 in India (Allahabad) to British parents he returned home to the UK whilst still a young boy. Always attracted to sports Kinder made his school teams for Football and Cricket but it was whilst he was in the RAF that his sporting talents were identified. He went on to box for the RAF at Fly Weight.
After leaving the RAF, moving his career into tailoring and getting married, sport took back seat. In his 30s went back into sport with Badminton but it was in his early 40s Squash became the sport of choice. Combining training with playing 5-7 games of squash per week, his standard grew from club level, though regional to English national and world standard. He has played at national and international level in O55, O60, O65, O70, O75 and O80's categories.^[5]
Since his 40s Kinder has continuously played at the highest levels of squash, travelling the world to participate in and win many tournaments, including the British Open in 1992 (Over-55s) and in 2005 (Over-70s). Kinder was also a committed county player for Avon. He won 15 county titles in the over 45, 55, and 60 age groups. At the age of 58, in a single year, Kinder played for Avon county team in the over 35, 45 and 55 age groups.
Suffering a serious heart attack in his early 60s could have brought an abrupt end to his sporting life style. However, Kinder went back to Squash and re-established his position by competing in European and World Championships.
From the 1990s to the 2020's, Kinder was a member of the Veterans Squash Rackets Club of Great Britain ^[6] winning 9 Singles and 22 Doubles titles in age categories from O55 to O80s. Indeed Kinder and his long term playing partner John Woodliffe had such a successful partnership that the Veterans Squash Rackets Club of Great Britain renamed the 0ver 75 Doubles trophy "The Kinder/Woodliffe Cup".
Kinder finally retired from squash in the spring of 2022 following the competitive squash hiatus during the global Covid pandemic. Kinder continued to keep fit with squash training routines and pilates.

Squash results

Awards and Recognition

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sportsman of the Year - 2005^[8]
Basingstoke Senior & Veteran Award - 2005^[9]
Interview on BBC Sport - 7th Mar, 2016^[10]
Interview on the BBC Breakfast Show - 05th Sept, 2020^[11]

References