GENERATIONS
// THE FANCUTT TENNIS LEGACY AT BGS
T
he Fancutt name is synonymous with tennis at Brisbane Grammar School, dating back to the 1960s, when husband and wife team Trevor and Daphne opened the famous Fancutts Tennis Centre and coached at schools all over Brisbane.
“Even at a young age BGS tennis featured in these experiences as Dad would often have his school players at the centre. I remember watching Dad coach a young BGS boy named Geoff Masters who went on to win the Wimbledon doubles championship.”
The renowned tennis pair were professionals on the tour through the 1950s, with Trevor a doubles grand slam champion and Davis Cup player for South Africa. After retiring and becoming coaches, Trevor soon established a home at BGS in 1963, guiding the First IV to an incredible 19 GPS tennis premierships in a little over two decades.
As players at the School and now as coaches, the Fancutt brothers have combined for 25 premiership wins. Charlie was part of an incredible five premiership wins as a student, while Michael and Chris had two each. Michael said coaching still gives him great enjoyment. “I love coaching at BGS, the boys are so enthusiastic and hungry to learn,” he said. “It is so exciting and rewarding to try and get the best out of a team of young players.”
After Trevor stepped down, the Fancutt legacy continued through his sons, Michael ’77, Charlie ’76 and Chris ’83. The Old Boy brothers dominated the tennis scene at school, state, and national level. Like their parents, all three have the proud distinction of playing in the main draw at Wimbledon, with Charlie taking down the mighty Ivan Lendl in five sets at the 1981 Wimbledon Championships.
BGS holds a special place in the hearts of the Fancutt brothers, from being students together to now working together, their time at the School is something they are very proud of.
“We have a long, proud relationship and history with Wimbledon,” BGS Director of Tennis Michael said. “We are the only family in the world to have all five members play in the main draw.”
Chris’ son Tom graduated from BGS in 2013 and continued the lofty Fancutt standards, as the number one player in three BGS premiership winning teams and now playing on the ATP professional tour.
After successful playing careers, the Fancutt trio went on to coaching careers around the world and at BGS, and can often be seen coaching on adjacent courts.
Michael said he was hopeful Tom could become the fourth BGS Old Boy from the Fancutt family to play at Wimbledon.
If you have a generational story please email it to grammarnews@brisbanegrammar.com.
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