The Bermuda Squash Racquets Association has renamed Court No 1 the William Milner Cox Court 1 in honour of the man who donated the land on which the squash club is built.

Cox, who died in 2020 at the age of 91, gave the land for the club to be constructed in 1968. The facility was opened with two courts in time for Bermuda to host the prestigious Rosebowl tournament, with two more courts added in 1974 as part of an upgrade.

“As the BSRA has recently undertaken court renovations and refurbishments, a decision was made to name Court 1, which is the only original court still in existence, William Milner Cox Court 1”, in recognition of the significant legacy Bill Cox left to the sport of squash in Bermuda,’’ the association said.

On Friday, in what turned out to be a squash reunion, Anthony Brewer, a former BSRA president, reminisced about the past as the club’s history was beamed on a television screen while old newspaper cuttings were also on display.

While he may be gone, Cox’s legacy still lives on with his grandson Andrew the island’s top junior player.

The renaming ceremony came a few days before the start of the Gnosis National Squash Championship at the club on Monday, with action taking place throughout the week, culminating in the champions being crowned on Friday.

Last year’s winner Micah Franklin, No 1 seed Taylor Carrick, Noah Browne, Anaya Smith and Kristian Muldoon are the favourites for the men’s title. Cox, Kion Knights and Ethan Rosorea are the other contenders.

In the women’s competition, champion and No 1 seed Melina Turk, Eilidh Franklin, Abigail Brewer, Susie Howells, Sydney Wallace and Joann Bielby have all received first-round byes. Olivia Sherratt, Rose Paulos, Suzanne Rose and McKenna Kyme will be fighting to join the top seeds in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Some of Bermuda’s up-and-coming talent, such as Mason Smith, Ben Sherratt, Owen Rosorea and William Frith, are also in action in the men’s B section.