About BWTA History

About BWTA

BWTA was formed in June 1974 during the Beckenham Grass Court Championships and its first Committee Meeting was held on 12 June in a Cricket Pavilion. Sue Mappin was the first chairperson.

A group a women tennis players decided to make an impression in the male dominated British tennis scene. British women, Ann Jones, Virginia Wade, Sue Barker, had at that time been successful (and outshone their male counterparts!) on the international scene, yet there was a male National Team Manager, and the international ladies felt that they wanted their views to be heard.

The membership has grown from 50 in 1974 to just under 1300. In 2001, BWTA organised over 80 days of tournaments for ladies and girls of all standards, and is indebted to the support it receives from the LTA and sponsorship from among others, Bernard & Sheila Warren and Wardray Premise Ltd.

The BWTA Committee, headed by President Sue Livingston, is eighteen strong, and comprises a huge wealth of tennis experience drawn from many parts of the UK.

BWTA is affiliated to the Lawn Tennis Association and is represented on the LTA Council by Sue Livingston and also has representation on the current LTA Project Group, Equity in Tennis, which incorporates the Girls in Tennis project, set up specifically to review, recommend and implement an improved coaching and tournament structure and employment opportunities for girls and women.

BWTA Committee Members play an important role at The All England Club during The Championships handling the accreditation of players and their entourages at the Player Information Desk.

BWTA sees the need to keep girls playing after junior days and is indebted to the generous sponsorship from Bob Wardley, son of former BWTA Vice-President, Kay Wardley. Two 2-day events for young ladies between 15 and 25 are well supported by players who no longer have the wide choice of events that are available to juniors.

See also -
25th Anniversary

The remarkable 26 year long tennis partnership between Tate & Lyle and BWTA came to an end in October 2001. Over this period Tate & Lyle sponsored some twenty or so one-day ladies doubles tournaments each year thereby annually giving more than 1,700 ladies of club standard the opportunity to compete in a fun and sociable atmosphere. The winners of each event qualified for the Masters which was staged annually at The All England Club Wimbledon along with a singles event for national and international standard players.
See "An appreciation of Tate & Lyle" including Roll of Honour.

Crawley Warren supported BWTA’s junior programme from the mid eighties, holding one-day events throughout the Country for girls in various age-groups from 9 & Under to 15 & under, with a Masters event for all the one-day winners held annually at Bisham Abbey.

BWTA is delighted that Bernard and Sheila Warren have personally continued the sponsorship to support one and two day matchplay tournaments for all ages. In 2001, 300 matches were played in this series.

One of the popular highlights of the BWTA year is the Christmas Tournament held at The Queen’s Club in December when international ladies join juniors to make up an event covering all standards and ages.

The success of the BWTA Challenge, four 2-way sixteen draw tournaments plus a Masters, for girls 17 & under has made the event a firm fixture in the BWTA calendar.

In June 2002 BWTA organised Jubilee Tennis Parties for girls 13 & under at 23 venues throughout England and Wales with just under 270 girls with little or no previous experience taking part in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The success of these parties has inspired organisers to continue with the format in future years.

BWTA organised a day for its members and their guests to a special day at the Ladies DFS Classic Event in Birmingham. Those attending were treated to a fascinating presentation about life on the Tour given by the American former Wimbledon Ladies Doubles finalist, Nicole Arendt, before going on to watch the tennis.

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