ROUNDHAY TENNIS CLUB
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PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE RLTC The Y/N columns denote if still a playing member at the club or not | |||||
| YEAR | NAME | Y/N | YEAR | NAME | Y/N |
| 1946-1963 | C ARMITAGE | 1963-1983 | John P BURNLEY | N | |
| 1983-1990 | Peter SPARLING | N | 1990-2000 | Graham C DAVIES | N |
| 2000-2004 | Ann VOSS | Y | 2004-2009 | Arthur Kasher | Y |
See current Committee, read full history of the club below or use the 'button' links above. FULL HISTORY OF ROUNDHAY TENNIS CLUB
Tennis was played on this site in the 1930's when it was a church club linked to St. Edmunds Church in Lidgett Park Road, there being one grey shale court and five grass courts.
During the war the grass courts were not maintained and the Girl Guides used them as a campsite!
1945/46 After the war only the shale court was used. A groundsman roughly cut the grass to keep it under control.
Pre war members returned and .....
.... in 1946 Roundhay Tennis Club was formed.
The following are extracts from the first applications -
8th July 1946
Betty was made an Honorary Life Member on retiring as Vice President in 1971, having also acted as Secretary and contributed enormously to the development of the club. She still lives in the area and is now a keen golfer.
The first Secretary was Mr J.C.Walker of Park View Old Park Road.
In the early years, the age of acceptance for juniors was 17. This was common practice with other clubs in the area as tennis was a popular and growing pastime. It was not uncommon for clubs to have long waiting lists of people wishing to join. Minutes record that prospective members had to be passed by the committee before they were able to join. Hence a lot of people learnt their tennis on public courts and often had to queue until a court became available.
Tournaments were resumed but rationing made the provision of the traditional 'tea' rather tricky!
All work carried out at the club was done by club members but working party mornings are remembered as great fun!
In 1952 Roundhay Tennis Club became Roundhay Lawn Tennis Club (Limited by Guarantee).
Grass courts 2 and 3 were converted to red shale followed by the resurfacing of No.1 to red shale. The maintenance of the grass was becoming too expensive for the club.
Debentures of were issued to club members to pay for the alterations and were paid back over the years.
Money was raised from a number of events such as whist drives, dances held at The Mansion and treasure hunts.
The selling of cigarettes in the pavilion (for which a licence had to be obtained) proved to be a great money spinner!
Most Club play took place at the weekends and tea was provided. A constant irritation was that the men ate the food but brought none. Nothing changes!
May 16th First A.G.M.
During the 1950's the club first started to obtain Wimbledon tickets, thanks to Betty Barratt.
1952 A 'woman' was employed to provide teas at the weekends!
1956 Electricity installed in the pavilion.
1959 Children were admitted to the club (for a trial period).
1962 Proposal to extend the pavilion
1966 Several male Temple Newsam players joined with a view to playing for Roundhay in the Yorkshire League which strengthened the teams in Div.3 and 4.
1965 A 'Saturday Morning Club' was started, mainly for children of members and their friends.
1967 The men's first team was promoted to Div.2
1968 Following the closure of North Leeds Tennis Club in Old Park Road several players joined Roundhay. Members and money was scarce and the club was in a delapidated condition. Various fundraising events were organised mainly by Colin Wright and repair work was carried out by club members and a wonderful spirit evolved. Membership began to increase.
Ron Jackson arranged for sessions of junior group coaching on Saturday mornings with L.T.A. coach Mrs Barbara Webster (a former Yorkshire Singles Champion and Yorkshire County Player). Individual coaching was also introduced.
1978 Arthur Kasher took over the junior coaching and junior membership increased and many promising players began to emerge. This became so popular that more then 60 juniors attended every Saturday for coaching, games and the learning of court etiquette. Arthur surmised correctly that parents would happily pay for their children's keenness to attend. This during the 1970/80 period brought in a lot of extra funding. The junior section went from strength to strength under Arthur's guidance.
During the 70s and 80s the social aspect of the club was important. At the weekends families and individuals would come down for the day. The tradition of afternoon tea continued organised by Joyce Warrington. A bell would be rung at 4.00p.m, all play ceased and tea would be taken. People took it in turns to look after the children whilst play took place.
Finance was a major problem and fund raising events took place all the time to help keep the club going. Events such as champagne and strawberry lunches were memorable! As was an Edwardian tennis day.
The club nearly closed or transferred a number of times and the general consensus is that it was Arthur and his very successful junior section that kept the club going.
1980 A proposed move to Roundhegians was considered. The Shaftesbury Avenue Site would be sold and courts built at Roundhegians.
1981 As a result of playing restrictions by the local residents the move was abandoned.
1982 A team was entered for the first time in the lower divisions of the Barkston Ash League. This was to give the younger players match experience. The youngsters eventually gained promotion to the First Division.
1983 A move to Chapel Allerton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club was under discussion, nearly took place, but was abandoned.
1988 In August the two remaining grass courts were converted into all weather courts. There were now 4 red shale and 2 all weather.
1989 Winter membership was introduced.
1990 A number of players from Moor Allerton Tennis Club joined. They had a team in the North Leeds Mixed Division which transferred to Roundhay and was very successful. As a result a second team was entered.
1995 A Sports Council Grant enabled the erection of floodlights over the now 3 hard courts and evening play commenced. For the benefit of local residents it was agreed that the lights would not be used after 10 pm.
Here are some photos of how the club used to look - coming soon!
2001 September An 'End of an Era' tournament was held. Matches were played on the shale for the last time and a final buffet meal was eaten in the old wooden pavilion.
2001 Work started on a complete refurbishment at the club. The wooden pavilion was replaced by a purpose built brick building and the shale courts replaced by all weather and the lower all weather by 'carpet'. All the facilities are accessible to the disabled.
A Sport England grant, a loan from the L.T.A. plus club funds enabled this work to take place
Inner City Link
The club coach started working in inner city schools to help and encourage youngsters to take up and enjoy the game of tennis. Outreach programmes to local schools continute to this day.
2002 May 19th The new facilities were officially opened. See photo .
2004 November 6th Open Day to celebrate 10 years of lottery funding. See slideshow on homepage and this photo. See photo.
2007 Will Murray made an Honorary Life member in recognition of many years service as Treasurer of the club
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Thanks go to for the above information.
If you have anything to add, thoughts or memories please feel free to contact us by email to roundhay.ltc@ntlworld.com.
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or at the club premises during opening times. Your comments regarding the website and suggestions for improvement are welcomed.
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20th May 1946
Hon. Zaidee Milner of Summer Hill Roundhay.
Founder Member Subscription .0.
Member proposing M.B.Gawthorp
Miss Betty Barratt of 13 West Park Avenue
Founder Member .0.
Member proposing W.Wormald
Sid Rowe for many years Club Treasurer is made an Honorary Life member
2005 The top courts are carpeted
2006 Brian Marshall and Jean Lawson become Honorary Life members, both in recognition of their stalwart services to the club.
2008 Clubhouse alterations create a larger social room and new Pro-shop/office by moving the toilets to the changing rooms - where they should have been in the first place! Alan Jackson made an Honorary Life member in recognition of his efforts setting up and maintaining the club website which has attracted many new members
2009 Lower courts professionally cleaned and re-sanded. Ann Voss becomes an Honorary Life member, in recognition of past service to the club as President through challenging times
Betty Barratt
Colin Wright
Jean Lawson
Ann Voss, President of the Club, delivers opening speech.
LTA loan, club funds and ,387 of Lottery money (Sports England) well spent!
Guests, members (new and old) contemplate the new surroundings!
(Thank you to Sue Welch for the photos)
Lottery cake made by Ann Voss