Charles Read (squash player)

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Charles R. Read was a professional squash player from England, where professional squash began in 1907. Read was based at the Queen's Club in London, and beat C. Bannister of the Bath Club 15-5, 15-13 at the Bath Club to win the first English professional championship title. Read then defended his title as English champion three more times until 1928.

When the British Open men's championship was instituted, Read was officially designated the first title holder, and thus played in the first final as the 'defending champion'. However, he lost the inaugural final series, played in home and away legs, 6-9, 5-9, 5-9 and 3-9, 5-9, 3-9 in December 1930 to the much younger challenger Don Butcher, a professional player from the Conservative Club in London.

Read was a versatile sportsman, having also been British professional champion at Lawn Tennis and Rackets.