Shaun Freeman
From Tennis
- compiled by Paul Johnson
- photos provided by Brian Holmes, Pam Newman and Mike Simpson
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Thoughts, memories and tributes from some of his many friends at Thames Ditton LTC
Shaun and the jelly
It was New Year's Eve some years ago and we had a large number of friends around the table. Naturally all of us were in high spirits by the time it came to the dessert.
Someone had made a large jelly which had been put in front of Shaun. He picked the bowl up and said, "I've always wanted to do this," and immersed the whole of his face in it. He then turned to a visiting American girl sitting next to him and with jelly falling off everywhere said, "Do you fancy a French kiss?".
Everyone fell about laughing and that was Shaun. Our parties can never be same again. We miss him dreadfully already.
- Bill and Pam Bird
Shaun, my game and my round
Among the ranks of people who took the mickey out of my tennis game, there was a master who reigned supreme: Shaun. Despite my best attempt at retaliations when he was on the court, he somehow always managed to turn up when I was at my worst, settling down in his chair with a pint and an infuriating smirk. My only consolation is that sometimes he laughed so much that he almost choked on his beer.
That brings me to my next gripe: the extreme amounts of beer that we drank together, obviously taking turns to purchase and ensuring that the other did not go away without buying his round. He's gone and left owing me a pint. You may well be sniggering, Shaun, but rest assured that I will get it off you when I see you! (Assuming I'm going to the same place).
- Andrew Meatyard
Arse!
- There's a massive vacuum, where there was a mountain of a man.
- An adorable husband, father, brother, friend.
- Shaun was a giant personality who radiated humour, warmth and endless optimism.
- Arse!
- The cruel immorality and indiscrimination of cancer.
- Shaun was an intrepid competitor and invariable victor, but throughout his sporting battles there was no greater gentleman and sportsman. A gladiator who spared the vanquished.
- Arse!
- A rogue, of course. It was in his smile and his demeanour. Never any bitterness, spite, jealousy or deceit. Quick to recognise a charlatan and alert to the quacking insincerity of a bullshitter.
- Arse!
- Shaun will always be roaring out YMCA at a party, rolling on the floor, half an apple in his mouth, at Halloween, or initiating raucous unsavoury antics to our delight, and forever I will hear his irreverent cry:
- Arse!
- Mike Simpson
Mally, Jo, Vicky, Jack, Fi, Kevin and Tina
- A great husband
- A great dad
- A great brother
- And
- A great friend
- He will be greatly missed.
- Anne Simpson xxx
Sweat, family and Shaun
For over 10 years I thought Shaun was Sean. An anomaly in the tennis club members list was left unchanged for over a decade but Shaun wasn't bothered. We all knew who he was and we all enjoyed spending time in his company. I even grew to forgive him his infuriating court strategy of drop-shot and lob (a technique fine-tuned over many years of practice).
And let's talk sweat. There's sweat and there's sweat. And Shaun Freeman was a man who knew how to sweat on a tennis court. I always considered it to be an apt reflection of Shaun's attitude to most things—you get stuck in, you give it everything you've got, then you change your shirt and have a beer!
On more than one occasion whilst reflecting on life's secrets, Shaun would remind me that two key imperatives for a successful life were family and sport. Family was always number one, but if you could have family and sport too, then so much the better. Watching, playing or discussing, it really didn't matter.
Shaun, the apparently self-appointed global ambassador for "Big Banger", was a man whose glass always appeared to be half full. An encounter with him down at the club was sure to raise the spirits (even if it was usually accompanied by a good natured critique of my game and a checklist of frailties that he would feel duty-bound to exploit next time we set foot on court!)
And then there were the mannerisms—why could he only drink beer from a glass with a handle? How could he remember that he beat me in a singles in 1995, but forget the other 25 times?
I'm going to miss Shaun, but the memories are strong, so I know I'll have no trouble remembering all the good times I spent with him down at TDLTC.
- Lloyd Furber
The last name on the Tea Rota
Yesterday afternoon all sunshine, the last session of the 2008 summer season at the Club. A couple of sets then tea and I noted the name on the tea rota for this last day of summer, Shaun. Anne had shown me photos of Shaun in happier times and I realised I really wasn't going to see him again barbecuing, chatting in the bar and, of course, on the tennis courts.
- Roger Marlow
Marvellous!
My friend Shaun!
It's going to be a while before we hear the cry of "Marvellous!" across the club; but it will not be forgotten. The good news for Mally is that she will now be able to have dinner on time!
I have so many memories from a variety of events over the years—I thought that you had it all sorted. Let's just look at your daily routine for a moment—up early for a swim while most of us were swimming through the hordes commuting into London; working from home most of the time; making time for sport and friends; thrashing around with Jack on the squash or tennis court and then relaxing afterwards with a well-earned pint of Pride. Marvellous. And most days you walked around with a smile, which became infectious to all of those around you.
I can see you now—already getting everyone organised socially, getting the music on, ready to sing and play—maybe even playing air guitar already! Heaven will be jamming to some rock and roll.
There are many other memories which will remain with me. Cheers mate. Love you.
- Neil Brownlie
That good-looking man
I recall the first time I saw Shaun at Thames Ditton some 21 years ago, my first thought was what a good-looking man he was! I soon realised that, not only was he kind on the eye, he was also a delightful, amusing and kind man—and a real family man.
My abiding memory of Shaun will be him coming off court drenched with sweat but appearing from the gents 10 minutes later all clean and fresh and ready for a beer, more often than not with Mally.
It won't be the same, looking out on the grass on a warm summer's day and no longer seeing him knock up with Jack or Kevin or one of his many friends. Always the life and soul of the party, he will be greatly missed.
- Pippa Dalton
A model club member
I really only knew Shaun through tennis and the tennis club. But it was clear from the first moment I met him that Shaun was a unique character: exceptionally warm and kind, yet always a truly exhilarating presence—whether on the tennis court, in the Club Bar or socially in the Club House.
He was ever smiling, and always charming—a model club member and a true role model for aspiring players. He was modestly humble, yet an excellent player, always courteous and gracious, generous in his praise, and rare in criticism. He was an inspiration to all and the perspiration simply demonstrated his 100% commitment, dedication and energy to every stroke, every game and every set on court as well as in every dance at the Club House disco.
He appeared to live life to the full, seemingly enjoying every moment with much humour and contentment.
It will hopefully be of great comfort to Mally and the children that he seemed so fulfilled in the love and affection of his family. My abiding memory of him is standing in the Bar, freshly showered, pint glass in hand, laughing and joking, and surrounded by loving members of his family .
- Paul and Karen Randolph
Rocking All Over the World
A great entertainer and the life and soul of any occasion whether it be at the Tennis Club or at Bill and Pam's on New Year's Eve. We will always remember Shaun the great Rock Star head banging his way through 'Rocking All Over the World' by Status Quo with his wonderful air guitar!!
With much love and thanks for many wonderful memories on and off the tennis court.
- Jill and Malcolm Jones
Living life to the full
When I think of Shaun, the things that always come to mind are his amazingly positive attitude to life, the importance he attached to family and friends and how he lived life to the full, always having a good laugh at every possible opportunity. There aren't many people who possess these attributes and it's a huge sadness that there's now one less. We're all the poorer for this.
I shall never forget his laugh, his infectious smile, the endless piss-taking over our attempts to play the sport we all love. He leaves a massive hole behind in the lives of his family and all of us that knew him and loved him.
- Paul Johnson
Audience with Shaun
Initial sighting: unfeasibly tanned and healthy-looking moustached chap banging balls from the baseline back in the days when we had long hot summers on the grass. His unorthodox jerky forehand flick immediately followed by an involuntary jerk of the head and fringe.
Got to know him and was pleased to be invited to join him as a regular relentless baseline basher.
Thought he was a little serious at first but this was purely my poor judge of character as I, along with many others looked forward to those sessions in the bar that could best be described as 'An Audience with Shaun Freeman'. His talent was not just as a raconteur as he would regularly play the Pied Piper role on the dance floor at any Club function, ensuring everyone joined in with his version of the Status Quo dance routine whether they liked Status Quo or not or indeed whether the track being played was actually Status Quo.
Competitive on court but always fair and honest—probably why I trusted him with my mortgage.
His recent illness didn't seem to bother him too much as he was more concerned with putting on a show at the club featuring a debut performance of his band in order to raise funds for a charity dear to his heart. Somehow he persuaded me to agree to do a turn—in my mind I had the idea of perhaps a five-minute monologue. Shaun arrived at the club a couple of days later with the promotional posters upon which he had mischievously elevated me to prime billing. There followed a banterish exchange including, from me, the odd you bast*rd! (a term he often threw at me whenever I passed him with a forehand down the line.) Proceedings closed with Shaun assuring me: "Come on Lighty, it'll be fine, it's gonna be a laugh."
Shaun phoned me about a week later: Got some good news and some bad news ... I no longer needed to panic about the gig, Shaun was going back to hospital but we would be re-arranging a replacement date.
I went on holiday and came back to harrowing voicemails. This time it was just bad news and bad news.
We never got to do our mutual debut. But the spirit, entertainment and humour of Shaun will live on in all of us that knew him.
- Peter Light
A true sportsman
Having played with and against Shaun since the mid-1990s, we will always remember him as a true sportsman in the very best sense of the word. He gave his all on court and clearly embraced each game with unbounded enthusiasm and relish. There were only encouraging comments for partners or opponents whatever the outcome and he was as humble in winning as he was generous in defeat. The sweat cascading off him and the post match reflections in the bar are the endearing images that will stay with us. In all the years we knew Shaun, we never heard anyone have a bad word to say about him. He leaves an enormous gap at the club which can never be filled but we had the privilege of knowing him and have nothing but the fondest memories. Our heartfelt thoughts go to Mally and family.
- Brian and Rosalind Holmes
Sadly missed
It was fun to have known you. You will be sadly missed.
Lots of love.
- Bob and Rosemary Collin
We will miss him
I just want to say how sorry and sad we are to hear of Shaun's illness and death. We will miss his cheery and happy personality very much indeed.
- Val and Pat O'Sullivan
An inspiration
To watch Shaun play tennis with his son Jack was an inspiration to us.
- Richard Rowley and sons Sam and Henry
On Fire
Shaun was a great friend and character. We remember one dinner party when he was performing his party piece on an imaginary guitar. We were all laughing but ended up shouting at him as he got too close to a candle and set his trousers on fire.
- Simon and Veronica Whittall
The heart and soul
A great shock to hear about Shaun. I saw him only a few weeks ago when he was back playing tennis and we thought he was on the mend. Tragic loss to his family, the heart and soul of any party who will be much missed.
- Garry Honey
Full of energy
We will always remember Shaun for his engaging personality, sense of fun and being truly a club man. He was always full of energy and enthusiasm. We will miss him and our thoughts are with Mally and family.
- Mark and Glenis Ward
