On a pleasantly warm Sunday morning in August of this year, 48 players from all over South Wales assembled at Dinas Powys Tennis Club to compete in the inaugural Shirley May James Memorial Veterans Tournament. Shirley established the Dinas Powys event some eight years ago. Since then it's become one of the most popular fixtures on the South Wales Veterans calendar.
Players of different ages and abilities took part in what turned out to be not just a great day of tennis, but also a highly sociable event. The ladies of the host club provided lunch, with tea-and-cakes being served in the afternoon.
There were some very close and highly competitive matches, all of which were played in a great spirit - despite the rather dismal rain that started falling after lunch! The overall winners, by just one game, were Freda Emery and Julie Collins. Later, Shan Llewellyn was presented with the 'Sportsmanship Award'. This was a popular and well-deserved recognition of her long-standing enthusiasm for the veterans game.
Each of us who attended the event will have spent at least some part of the day thinking of our friend Shirley. She will be much-missed by everyone who knew her. Naturally, then, the occasion was tinged with a measure of sadness. The tournament itself, however, turned out to be a great success. A raffle of prizes donated by the players and by Shirley’s husband Alec was held. The proceeds from the raffle of nearly £200 have been donated to The British Heart Foundation.
Finally, on behalf of South Wales Tennis Veterans, I would like to give a big ‘Thank you’ to the Dinas Powys Club for kindly agreeing to host the event again this year. I would also like to thank all the players and, indeed, the spectators who turned up on the day and helped make the occasion so memorable. Being, as she was, so passionate about tournament tennis, I know how very proud Shirley would have been to have such a fun day named in her honour.
Written by Liz Singer, South Wales Tennis Veteran and friend of Shirley May James