With members of the tennis section now enjoying first class facilities, including six all weather courts, and this year’s Wimbledon in full flow, it seems an appropriate time to briefly look back at the section history.
It was 1897 when this shot captured the founding members of Prestwich tennis club. The the section had been founded two years previously and soon had six grass courts on the Stack Meadow ground. The present Highfield road now occupies the site.
The hon. secretary of 1893 was John Walker and he is second from the right on the back row of the photograph. The man sitting on the ground, front row, was Charlie Feldon, at that time Racquets Champion of England.
When the club moved to the Heys in 1905 five grass courts were made and a new pavilion was erected at a cost of £120. The First world war depleted the male membership but the club was kept a live by the lady members.
During the 1920s four shale courts were made the first two opened in 1925 and the president’s wife Mrs. Arthur Walkden served the first ball. This ceremony was followed by exhibition matches between Max Woosnam, the Davis cup player and other internationals.
During this time Prestwich became a founder member of the Manchester and District Lawn Tennis League, which until 1940 comprised of forty clubs.
By the end of 1941 all the male members were in uniform. For the next five years the ladies kept the club going and even rolled the courts and painted the pavilions.
This second photograph was taken in 1956 on the day of the tournament finals. In the centre of the front row is Mr Fred Kershaw, the club’s president, who in 1906 as hon treasurer was one of those responsible for the purchase of the present ground.
After the war all the shale courts were in use, but the grass courts were beyond redemption. To teach the juniors to play, Miss Sybil Walker, one of the the two leading coaches in Lancashire was engaged to coach exclusively on the club courts.
More recently the club has gained first class facilities and this colour photograph shows members enjoying Saturday afternoon social tennis.
Ian Pratt
• Has watching Wimbledon given you the tennis bug and would like to try you hand?
Why not join the tennis section and take advantage of our superb facilities.
If you’ve not played before, there are also various opportunities for coaching at all age levels.
