Gander's Vision
by Bob Hanscom
April 3, 2012 - For those of you who read the K.C. Gander article, "The Future of Squash," someone called him the H.G. Wells of squash! Like Henry Ford, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Edison, Buffet, Gates and Jobs...a true visionary!
There's no doubt that K.C. Gander's 1938 foresight regarding "The Future of Squash" comes under the heading of George Bernard Shaw's quote, "“Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask, why not!”
Regarding television, it's a fact that the first televised soccer match, (England versus Scotland), was shown on the BBC on April 19, 1938! Why not squash!?
Regarding "aquariumization of the court," tempered glass was not widely used until about 1940, two years after Gander wrote his article! However, the all-glass squash show-court didn't come into being until the early 1980's! Where was Gander when we (squash) needed him between 1940 and 1980, a 40 year gap!? Again, why not sooner!? A visionary...I guess!
Gander was a leading English sportsman, aviator, explorer and author. Born at his parents' home in Regent's Park, London and was the fourth and youngest son of independently wealthy Joseph Wilson Gandar-Dower and his wife Amelia Frances Germaine.
He attended Harrow School, where he played squash, cricket, soccer, Eato fives and rackets. He then received a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge 1927 to read history. More importantly, he won athletic blues in billiards, tennis, and real tennis, Rugby Fives, Eton fives and rackets. In addition, Gandar edited Granta and chaired the Trinity debating society.
Gander was born on August 31, 1908 and died on February 12, 1944 at the young age 36! On February 6, 1944 Gandar boarded the SS Khedive Ismail at Kilindini Harbor at Mombasa bound forColombo. While approaching Addu Atoll in the Maldives on February 12th, the vessel was attacked by a B1 type Japanese submarine. Struck by two torpedoes, the Khedive Ismail sank in two minutes, leaving a death toll of 1297, Gandar among them!
This was a great loss, to be sure! Just think of what he would have envisioned had he lived a longer life! Perhaps squash WOULD have been in the Olympic Games by now!
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