Peter Mornard catches up with Chris Clarke:
Q: What do you feel makes the Framlingham Tournament so special ?
The friendliness + the family atmosphere without any doubt at all, with families coming back year after year, generation after generation. There is a mix of very high quality tennis + very social tennis, which is the joy of the tournament.
Q: What is the main highlight of the week for you ?
Without any doubt seeing everybody enjoying themselves and meeting up with old friends.
Q: What place does the Tournament hold in the local community ?
It is a very strong tradition so wonderfully supported by Framlingham College who are so massively enthusiastic with their magnificent facilities + general administration helping in every way.
Q: Which personalities stand out for you over your many years at Fram.?
I suppose the referees Reg Mynard and then Gordon Blake, doing about 70 years between them. “Spike” was a wonderful character who ran the Control Desk for many years in my youth.As far as players are concerned, Joan Hassell played when I was a junior, and now I am 60 she is still playing a wonderfully good game ! I remember international players who played at Wimbledon on occasions – our President Christine Janes played here as did her sister Nell and Paul Hutchins. Pip Wootton, Freddie Beer, Julian Tatum and Alfred Long dominated the Sufolk scene.
Q: Outline the importance of the Tournament Committee, and your role on it ?
The importance of the Committee is only to ensure that the tournament continues and to ensore there is financial viability. There are many Patrons + Sponsors who give great support and a Committee who give of their time freely to keep the tournament going in the traditional way but at the same time moves forward.
Q: What improvements would you suggest for future years ?
We just need to keep abreast of what is required. I would love to see more umpiring by competitors, as general disagreeable behaviour is not something I like to see at all. We all like to win, but I’d like to see good sportsmanship high on the agenda at Framlingham.
Q: What would you say, to encourage a competitor to enter the Framlingham Tournament ?
Just get involved at any level. Of course today you have to have some sort of ranking which is a bit foreign to me, but if you are keen to play and to be involved then Framlingham is the tournament for you !
Q: What help does the Tournament need to remain successful in future years ?
We need ongoing help from volunteers and without doubt, ongoing financial support from Patrons + Sponsors. We’re not out to make a great profit, but need to be stable to continue with this wonderful tradition.
Q: What one thing has the Tournament given to Chris Clarke and family ?
A tremendous amount of fun over very many years and a great family involvement – I love the social atmosphere and everything that the Tournament offers. The standards today are amazing – the way I played in the 1960s, I’d hardly get a game in the juniors today !
For more information about the Framlingham Tennis Tournament please click here