Master of the mallet
Paul Skinley croquet champion b January 12, 1959 d March 23, 2021
Paul Skinley liked to joke that he learned croquet in his mother’s pram. Known as ‘‘Mr Wellington Croquet’’, Skinley has died aged 62 after a battle with melanoma and a 50-year career playing the game he loved.
His mother, Frances Kui Skinley, introduced him to the sport. An active member of the Rangatira Croquet Club in Dannevirke, she played until she was nine months pregnant, and later pushed Paul to the club in her pram.
There was plenty of inspiration for a boy, with the club featuring a number of high-profile players, including Eileen Stephens and Gladys Browne, who were happy to pass on their knowledge.
Developing his own style, with an extra long mallet and an upright stance with locked knees, he started playing seriously at 11. The 1974 North Island Open Singles was the first of many titles, including three at national level.
Nationally, he was an executive member of Croquet New Zealand, a tournament manager, referee, handicapper, national selector and regular NZ representative.
Moving to Wellington in 1978, he joined the Wellington Municipal Croquet Club, and immediately made an impact.
Friend and fellow club member Susan Leuchars says there was virtually nothing in the club he did not do.
‘‘He could often be found at the club at all hours completing tournament schedules, organising interclub and club competitions, gardening, cleaning and maintaining the club premises or making his wonderful soups for the next tournament.’’
A feature of his dedication was his willingness to coach anyone. ‘‘He has been the rock of our club for over 40 years and was always exceptionally generous with his time, especially when coaching new and school age players.
‘‘There would be very few members of the club who do not have Paul’s voice in their head at some stage on the lawn: ‘Stalk the ball’, ‘Keep your head down’ . . . and my personal favourite, ‘Did you see your mallet hit the back of the ball? – no? – well, what do you expect then’.’’
As well as being a talented coach, his knowledge of the game and its history was ‘‘encyclopaedic’’ and he had an uncanny ability to record details of past games. ‘‘To us, he can best be described as ‘Mr Wellington Croquet’.’’
Life was not, however, always easy for Skinley. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones), he broke 17 bones as a child. In later life, he also suffered from hepatitis, heart disease and cancer.
Irene Nelson says her brother had an interesting life away from croquet.
‘‘Paul loved and adored his cats, and he was a great cook. He was a very good knitter and quite arty.’’
He also loved horse racing and dancing, and enjoyed socialising. ‘‘He will be missed by a lot of people.’’
He worked in menswear and for Duty Free NZ, managed a hotel and worked as a gardener.
Skinley was a life member of Croquet New Zealand, the Wellington Croquet Association and the Wellington Municipal Croquet Club.