Gainsborough Town TC - History profile

This extract is taken from an article in "Lincolnshire Tennis - Lincolnshire Lawn Tennis Association Autumn 2001".

Originally sited on Ropery Road, near the old cemeter, it amalgamated with the West Gainsborough TC, whose courts were on the riverside beside the Trentport Hotel. There were 5 grass courts and a wooden shack containing nets and a mower and a curtain to draw across to make a changing room. The toilets were in the next field. As the club on Ropery Road no longer existed, it was decided to rename the West Gainsborough Tennis Club, Gainsborough Town Tennis Club and invited Colonel Henson, who was president of the club on Ropery Road, to become the new president and a badge featuring the River Trent was designed.

A high standard of tennis was required and teams played in the Lincolnshire Ladies and Men's Leagues. Social activities were also important. There were many outings to Mablethorpe, everyone meeting in the Market Place and piling into the cars of those members who were lucky enough to own one. There would be early morning swims at Lea Road baths then back to the club for breakfast followed by a game of tennis or "Rusty Bum" or both!

By the early fifties the wooden hut was getting beyond repair and the members were looking for more sophisticated changing facilities, a kitchen and somewhere to shelter when rain stopped play! Grants were not so easily available in those days and fund raising became essential, one way being for members to buy a brick for 6d (2p). The end result was a loverly brick pavilion complete with flower boxes designed by one of our own members, Neil Taylor and other members providing labour when appropriate. Although the courts are no longer in use the pavilion is still ther, having been purchased by the Dog Training Club, who took over the site when Gainsborough Town Tennis Club moved to their present site behind the Peacock Hotel on Corringham Road.

Plans for the last move started in Septemeber 1982 as on so many occasions the courts were "Unfit for Play" - a sign so often on display! Our president at the time was Hermann Gilbert. There were no public hard courts in Gainsborough and these would extend the playing time and even make it possible to play tennis during the winter. To get help from the LTA we needed security of tenure, but the brewery were unable to offer a long term lease. Members were invited to a special meeting at which it was decided to go ahead with the project to take over the disused Highfiled Bowling Club and make the bowling green into 3 grass tennis courts and lay 3 Asphalt courts in front. Due to the generosity of Nancy Dordery and other members, we were also able to build a brick pavilion with a kitchen, general seating area, plus shower and toilte facilities in the changing rooms. This complex was officially opened on May 17 1986 by Sir Nicholas Bacon.

Thank you to Freda Burgin who supplied Phil Green with the background information