I Say, " Anyone for Tennis?

History of Winstanley Park Tennis Club

Tennis is considered elitist in some quarters, this notion is often reinforced by the 'headline' above often used in situation comedies and farces to exemplify a class divide; the truth is the complete opposite of this notion, the sport is not elitist in anyway whatsoever welcoming to people of all creeds and backgrounds. Tennis is still very much part of our heritage. There are for example 4118 places to play tennis including 97 performance centres, 21,186 courts (1,645 of which are indoor) and 3,904 registered or licensed coaches. I include these statistics to demonstrate that the game is alive and well.

Winstanley Tennis Club is proof of the vibrancy of the sport, still booming a century after its foundation in May 1921. It was a difficult time when the club came into being, 3 years after WW1 and at a time of social discord witnessed by the general strike 5 years later, to give an indication as to how difficult times were the inflation rate for that year was minus 8.7 % the worst period of deflation for over a century. However the club prospered and 'carried on and kept calm 'through the privations of The Depression and the horrors of WW2.

The original name was “Winstanley Park Tennis Club”, its name reflecting its initial location within the parkland of the Winstanley Estate, the home of the Bankes’ family. Indeed, the idea of an adjacent tennis club came from Members of the cricket club, Winstanley Park CC; thanks to their records we know that various fund-raising events, including an August Bank Holiday carnival in 1921, made it possible to bring about the actual beginnings of tennis on the site on one grass court in May 1922 followed by 3 shale courts shortly afterwards.

An annual rent of 2s/6d (12.5 pence) for the tennis and cricket clubs was paid in alternate years by each; this peppercorn rent was to protect the ownership of the land – this is how the Club’s legendary ‘faith teas’ at tournaments came about! The shale courts were considered to be the best in the Warrington League and were maintained by constant rolling and brushing by the Members, overseen by Jimmy Winstanley, a long-standing servant, and ultimately President of the Club.

In the late 70s the decision was taken to obtain land, so the club would be its own landlord, so to speak A site was identified just off Winstanley Road where it would be possible to expand the club and increase the junior membership. The land was purchased from the local farmer with the help of Gerry Rickards, Club Chairman at the time; donations and loans from members allowed the erection of 3 hard courts and, in 1980, a very basic wooden clubhouse.

The early days on the new site involved Members running jumble sales, afternoon teas, sponsored walks, and various competitions to help raise the money to run the club. League matches took place on the old shale courts, on hard courts at Winstanley College, as well as on the new courts. In order to maintain the clubs reputation for providing refreshments to visiting teams at these other locations, tea and biscuits were dispensed from car boots!

The clubhouse was extended in 1993 and 2 further hard courts were laid in with grant-aid from The Foundation for Sports and the Arts and a loan from the Lawn Tennis Association (‘LTA’).

Following a bequest from Jimmy Winstanley’s estate, land for a 6th court was purchased in 2000 and this artificial grass court was named in his honour upon its opening in July 2004. Floodlighting was installed on this court in June 2006 with a grant from LTA helping towards the cost. It's a great pity that this long held ambition of Jimmy's came after his death.

That same year, Members also agreed to set the wheels in motion for a replacement clubhouse. The project was completed under the guidance of former Club Chairmen, Geoff Bradshaw (2006-12) and John Elmer (2013-17). The club made a giant leap forward when on Saturday, 27th September 2014 Club President, Dr. Ken Walker, cut the ribbon and declared the new clubhouse ‘officially open’.

The club owes much to the generosity of Bankes' Family . The Chairmen and Presidents throughout the decades, it would be remiss not to give a special mention of thanks to Jimmy Winstanley and of course the work of all the members during its long existence. Those providing the 'famous teas ' deserving a special mention also.

The club has benefited from the involvement of Lawn Tennis Association ('LTA') and The Foundation for Sports and the Arts. The Club is righty proud that in 2009 it was the first (outdoor club) in the district to receive the 'The Tennis Clubmark' . This prestigious award in recognition of all the voluntary work throughout the its history that has made the club what it is today. Imagine how proud the founding fathers of 1921 would be to know how the club has progressed .

I am very grateful to Ros Barton , Christine Charnock Jones, Stan Meredith and other members who have taken the time to talk to me , I'm particularly grateful to Stan for giving me unfettered access to the minutes from the earliest Committee Meetings, they tell a story of deep commitment to the notion of founding the club in the first place, that commitment is just as relevant today.

There are little nuggets in the minutes that are worthy of note for instance July 1st 1921, in readiness for The Carnival to be held on August Bank Holiday, it was proposed my Mr Moore and seconded Miss Petty that a Ladies Cricket match form part of the programme, this I think would have been an unusual occurrence in those days given that The Women's Cricket Association wasn't founded until 1926. 'Mighty Oaks from little acorns grow!' The same meeting decided on the entrance fee for admission – 1 shilling for adults , sixpence for children, after 6pm sixpence all classes, it sounds as though the jamboree was intended to go on till well into the evening .

On the meeting held on 15th July 1921 it was proposed by Mr. J Hampton , seconded by Mr. G Moore the membership be limited to 70 with exception of cricket club members . This clearly shows that there was a pent-up demand for such facilities; people sort entreatment in sport in those days long before television or even the wireless .

For interest the later part of the above meeting is included verbatim -'Proposed by Mr. Moore that The Ashton in Makerfield Band be engaged for Sports Gala as per tender £10-0-0 + refreshments. Proposed by Mr. W Humphrey 2nd J Humphrey that Messrs Cassinelli's be accepted for Ice cream £5-5-0. Proposed by Mr. W Humphrey 2nd Mr Moore that Mr. Dearden's tender for refreshments be accepted less Ice cream including tea £ 12-10-0 Proposed by Mr. Moore 2nd by Mr. H Hartley that Mr. Horrock's tender be accepted for Punch and Judy £5-5-0.

The extracts from the above minutes may seem irrelevant today, you may wonder why they have been included but this is part and parcel of how committees carry out the business of their particular organisation then and now, mundane but necessary to good governance, things that seem unimportant at the time but have long term consequence . I cannot but wonder if the consideration given to refreshments on that evening in 1921 was the precursor to the famous teas for which the club is renowned!

The club goes from strength to strength with over 200 members, I'm sure a century from now someone will be writing an article to celebrate the clubs bicentenary; to all faint hearts who have doubted the viability of the sport at local level - I think it can be fairly said 'Game Set and Match!'

Tom Walsh and Christine Charnock Jones.