Blakedown Tennis Club is set to celebrate its 90th anniversary with a tournament, free coaching and a barbecue on Sunday, September 28.
The event is open to non members and in addition to marking the occasion the club is very much looking forward to the future with the recent addition of two new coaches – Kirk Woodall and Grant Chapman – aimed at increasing the numbers of juniors.
Club members have been delving into its history and early details having been uncovered dating back to a minute book from 1924-33.
The minutes reveal it was originally housed at The Avenue, where three grass courts were laid at a cost of £50 after the land was leased, at £3 a year, from local Justice of the Peace, William Taylor who was a chain maker.
The club’s first president was Reverend Henry Sculthorpe, who was rector between 1893 and 1923, and its pavilion clubhouse was bought in January 1926 for £30 while the first event held was a flannel dance where the men had to wear flannel trousers and tickets cost 1/6d.
British Sugar approached the club to play some matches in the early days but the courts were so close to the railway line that play had to be suspended every time a train went past due to the noise.
The club has been at its current site since 1972 and has three courts with two floodlit.
The anniversary celebrations begin with an American tournament at 2pm, free coaching from 4pm and a barbecue at 5pm (tickets £3).
Anyone interested in finding out more please see www.blakedowntennisclub.co.uk or email blakedowntennisclub@gmail.com