Capetonian Reg Bamford: Croquet titan now swings into invention

Croquet may conjure images of British lawns and cucumber sandwiches. Or, if you’ve read Alice in Wonderland, you might recall the phrase “Off with their heads!” - with the Queen using flamingos as mallets, hedgehogs as balls, and playing cards as hoops. These aren’t images typically associated with South Africans, who are more known for their sporting prowess on rugby fields, cricket pitches, and in swimming pools. And yet, one of the world’s greatest croquet players, Reg Bamford from Cape Town, who first picked up a mallet at the age of four in Rondebosch, has just claimed his 13th British Golf Croquet Open Championship title - adding to a glittering list of accolades that includes multiple world championships. Although he has lived in the UK for years, Bamford continues to represent South Africa on the international stage. Most recently, he captained the national team at the World Croquet Championships in Tasmania, securing their place in the sport’s top tier. Bamford, who is also the founder of immigration specialists Sable International, told Biznews in an interview that he’s becoming an inventor, developing a sleek, portable swing trainer designed to help players perfect their technique. A prototype, he tells us, will be available soon.