JOHN REYNOLDS 1929----2013
John Reynolds epitomised everything that was so wonderful about the game of Tennis for those of us of a certain age . He was a true gentleman of an era of wooden Tennis Rackets , white Tennis Balls , Fred Perry shirts , long green slender Tennis Holdalls and lengthly three set ,no tie break matches on week-end afternoons . John was a skilled competitor with the expertise to unravel his opponents weaknesses ,none more so than in Doubles matches where he forged a very successful partnership with his Hartley and David Lloyd Dartford Clubs partner John Ackers . Sportsmanship was always number one priority where John was concerned ,disputes were settled with “play two” and win or lose he was a pleasure to converse with at the after match drink . He had that little chuckle which I fondly remember as he recalled ,certainly in later years ,the number of comebacks he made, from what us lesser mortals considered impossible injuries to recover from .
John simply loved the game of Tennis . Not surprising then that he met his wife to be Margaret, then the “Miss Gillingham Beauty Queen “ at the Avenue Tennis Club at Gillingham ,a love match that produced two children Michael and Debbie . Michael went on to play for Kent at County Week in the Seventies and forge a very successful Coaching career in Europe . John would enjoy telling ,perhaps a little bit tongue in cheek that on his wedding day , when it came to the “ love ,honour and obey line “ he told his blushing bride that he would give up everything for her---- apart from Tennis
Johns Kent Tennis successes included Captaining the Kent 70 team that won the National Title in 2001 and 2002 ,having previously Captained the 65 age Group in 1999 and 2000. Between 1990 and 2006 he made 38 appearances overall for his County starting with the 55 age group . 2009 was one of Johns most finest years where he won the National Grass Court Doubles 80 and over partnering Darius Pinah-Izadi where they beat Guy Foster and Lennie Lawrence 1-6 6-4 and a 10-7 tie break . In that same year he also won two high profile 80 events with different partners proving what an skilled doubles tactician he was . His Tennis career also featured winning the National 75 Clay Court Doubles in 2004 at Bournemouth , winning the Kent 65 Doubles with John Ackers in 1997and 1998 ,winning the 60 Singles and Doubles at the World Corporate games in 1991 and 1992 at Wimbledon . He also partnered John Ackers to represent the Hartley Club in the 1995 and 1996 World Corporate Games in Stuttgart and Geneva . There were many other achievements at Club level but perhaps the one that stands above all was when he was selected to represent Great Britain at the Super Seniors at Philadelphia in 2004 . John and partner had a great run in this Nations Cup before losing to the eventual winners .
John will be sadly missed by those of us who had the privilege to play against him . A fiercely competitive opponent yes ,but a true sportsman who shook ones hand in victory and defeat with warm friendship . Then followed the customary drink and Johns litany of amusing stories . And of course the unforgettable Reynolds chuckle . God Bless you John
Denis Costelloe