Club members travel far and wide visiting Centenary Tennis Clubs
By Dave Barham
In November 2023, East Glos became a member of the Association of the Centenary Tennis Clubs (CTC). The CTC is an umbrella group of 78 clubs in 24 countries on five continents. All member clubs have a history dating back at least one hundred years and have played a significant sporting tradition and social role in their communities.
One of the benefits of the club’s CTC membership is the opportunity to arrange introductions to other member clubs. Eight East Glos members have taken advantage of this visiting associate clubs in three countries on two continents, travelling a combined distance of approximately 7,140 miles (14,280 on a round trip basis). These are not insignificant statistics for the first eight months of membership.
Dave Barham (second left) with members of Yokohama International Tennis Community
Jules Greenwood metaphorically struck the first serve and put the ball in play at the Villa Primrose Club in Bordeaux. Dave Barham went to the Yokohama International Tennis Community in Tokyo. Steve and Katie Moore, with their children Spencer and Lewis, visited Queen’s in London. James Marsland also went to Queen’s, while Sarah Jones crossed the Channel to Le Touquet.
All eight East Glos members were warmly welcomed by clubs that not only meet the prerequisite of having been established for over one hundred years but also embrace the aspirant spirit of CTC founder Juan Maria Tintoré (1927-2020) in extending international friendship through tennis.
The Yokohama International Tennis Community was founded in 1878 and was the first tennis club to be established in Japan. Steeped in history, the club continues to offer its members clay court tennis of the highest quality in a unique location. The club actively promotes tennis within Asia and hosts an international day tournament.
The Queen’s Club was founded in 1886 as a multi-sport club, which included football, cricket, rugby, real tennis and Eton fives. Many of these sports relocated over time, and the club is now best known for tennis, which was introduced in 1887. Queen’s has one of the most iconic clubhouses, making it instantly recognisable. Currently, the club hosts the pre-Wimbledon Cinch grass court tournament.
James Marsland (left) with his father Alan at Queen’s Club. James says, “We had an awesome day. This was for my father’s 79th birthday as he’s a super keen tennis fan. East Glos was very helpful in getting this arranged, and Queen’s Club made us feel very welcome”.
Jules Greenwood visits the Villa Primrose Club.
The Villa Primrose Club in Bordeaux was founded in 1897, and the Le Touquet in 1903. Both clubs held internationally recognised tournaments until the open era in 1967. They played a significant role in developing tennis throughout France. A thirteen-year-old Suzanne Lenglen would win Le Touquet in 1913 and Bordeaux a few years later. More recently, both clubs have hosted ITF seniors tournaments providing tennis at two beautiful locations.
Julian Wellings’ 2023 book “A History of East Glos Club” hopefully raised awareness of our club’s antiquity and illustrious history. Perhaps less well-known is the club’s international pedigree. Before the open era, East Glos hosted a pre-Wimbledon grass court tournament that attracted overseas entrants. More recently, our club has hosted visiting teams from clubs in Ireland, Germany and the United States. In 2004, four members visited South Africa. They represented East Glos in friendly matches at Newlands in Cape Town and Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo region. A specially designed ostrich egg was presented to the team, commemorating their visit. It is on display in the club trophy cabinet.
Most of these events were low-key and not fully recorded. Hopefully, membership of the CTC will open a new chapter for East Glos. To embark on a fantastic journey and be part of an organisation with clubs reflecting diffident charm and traditions of sporting chivalry, to foster mutual understanding and generate friendship through sport and across borders — as relevant today as it was a hundred years ago.
If you’d like to arrange a visit to a CTC member club, please get in touch with club manager Darren Morris. On a broader perspective, East Glos is also committed to participating on a wider scale. With this aim in mind, club members Liz Sim and Dave Barham will assist Darren. Their brief is to explore the inter-club events program and identify opportunities to include wider membership involvement within the CTC.