A Brief History of Enfield Lawn Tennis Club

A Brief History Of Enfield Lawn Tennis Club Enfield Lawn Tennis Club, 71 The Ridgeway, Enfield, EN2 8NA Founded in 1907.

That's what it says on the Website and the letter head and the posters around the place.

Have you ever wondered what the story behind that name might be?

The history of our club is a long, rich and varied one. The Club has had a number of forms and occupied a number of sites over the years. The Club has been an important part of many peoples lives over the last one hundred and twelve years and we will attempt to record some of that history before it's all lost in the mists of time.

Members have met and fallen in love with each other. Some have met and married their life partners and their children have become members and now they bring their grandchildren and so the circle goes on. Some come and go like ships in the night. Some come and go and leave with wonderful memories and send letters to us telling of the good times, friendships and affection they have enjoyed at ELTC. Even in today's frenetic world people still find the time to enjoy the friendships that the extended family that is ELTC has to offer.

Enfield Lawn Tennis Club started life in 1907 as Enfield Tennis and Croquet Club Ltd. An intrepid reporter from The Enfield Gazette wrote this account of the first meeting of Enfield Tennis Croquet Club Ltd in it's publication dated the 27th of October 1907 .

THE ENFIELD TENNIS AND CROQUET CLUB IMITED A well attended meeting, including many Ladies, of those interested in the formation of a new Enfield Tennis and Croquet Club at the Bycullah Athenaeum Wednesday evening.

Mr. F Porter was voted to the chair, and in his opening remarks stated that an excellent ground had been secured close to the brook at the foot of Slade's Hill. Financial support to the scheme to the extent of over ÂŁ400 had been promised. With the funds already in hand or promised it would be possible at once to make six tennis courts and one croquet lawn, and they hoped to be able to increase this accommodation to eight tennis courts and two croquet lawns, which would then occupy the full extent of the ground at their disposal. the ground, he added, had been secured on a lease for 14 years.

After considerable discussion as to whether the Club should be formed as an ordinary club, or as a private limited company, it was proposed and carried by a large majority that the club should be formed under the condition of a private limited company. Mr. C. E. Hunter was unanimously elected hon. secretary; and the following were elected a provisional committee to draw up the rules and to approve the articles of association of the proposed company, which must be finally sanctioned by a future general meeting of the members; Messrs. E. A. Berry, H. N. Barry, G. A. Beasley, C. H. Churchill, F. C. Dixon, Carl Eberstein, Arthur H. Green, P . Lionel Miller, J . D . McEwan, J . Maitland, G . W . Potter, C . C . Rawlinson, Douglas Spicer, P . Geo. Vanderpump, W . C. Willian, and C . W . Whittaker.

The terms of the membership are as follows; each member is to take up at least one fully paid up share at ÂŁ1, 1s. which is equivalent to an entrance fee. Each gentleman will pay a

subscription of £1. 11s. 6d. : each lady of £1. 1s. Honorary members pay an entrance fee of £1. 1s. and a subscription of 10s. 6d. The holding of five guineas in shares constituted hon. life membership, and hon. members will be allowed to attend all meetings of the club without charge.

It is perhaps somewhat strange that such a club has not been established before now, particularly when it is added that there is not at present a single full-sized croquet lawn in Enfield. This will perhaps be a matter of surprise to our readers, but they will more easily realise that it is true when they remember that a full-sized croquet lawn is 105 feet by 85 feet, or 36 yards by 28 yards, an area which is nearly large enough to provide two ordinary tennis courts.

The meting was throughout very interesting and enthusiastic, and there can be little question that the new club had been started under the happiest auguries. It will no doubt soon find many members emulating some of the distinction of some of the promoters, and the club will very speedily earn a front place among the foremost tennis and croquet clubs in the Metropolitan area.

Unfortunately this local journalist didn't sign his work. Mr P. George Vanderpump was a founding member of Enfield Tennis and Croquet Club Ltd and started his own firm of solicitors that survives today as Vanderpump and Sykes . Some of the Vanderpump family still remember his love of ELTC. If you'd like to know more about the local lost treasure that was the Bycullah Athenaeum. follow this link: http://www.artstart.org.uk/losttreasures/index.php? option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=38&Itemid=91

The Collingridge Story Hugh Collingridge was the longest-term resident of Highland, Old park road, Enfield, residing there from 1914 to 1946. This is the site upon which Collingridge House is now situated. He was the son of Willian Hill Collingridge, who lived at Ingleborough, Enfield, where he met his future wife. The couple left the district for some time but returned to live at Highlands in 1914.

A man of great social standing, Hugh Collingridge was closely associated with the Enfield War Memorial Hospital for many years. In his early twenties, he held office in the Ridgeway Ward of the Conservative Association.

Keenly interested in sports, he was a dedicated member of Enfield Lawn Tennis Club for whom he became president, obtaining a ground for the club and raising finance for the construction of courts. Hugh's father, William Hill Collingridge, was Vice-Chairman of the NSPCC. It is recorded that he attended no less than fifteen hundred committee meetings.

The London Gazette dated 26th June 1917 records John Collingridge, Leonard T Collingridge and Hugh Collingridge as dissolving their company of Publishers, Printers, Newspaper Proprietors and Stationers at 148-149 Adlersgate-Street, and Newbury-Street, Cloth Fair both in the City of London.

The London Gazette, 8 February, 1954 records. O.B.E. "The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma and on the eastern Frontier of India;Brigadier Hugh Vivian Collingridge .O.B.E. (16564) Indian Army."

The National Archives, Kew records. D.S.O. WO 373/35/10 Collingridge, Hugh Vivian, Colonel, Service number 16564, Unattached List Indian Army Head Quarters. 37 Indian Infantry Brigade. Theatre of Combat or Burma Operation, Award Distinguished Service Order. Date of announcement 08 February 1945 in London Gazette. Sadly Hugh Collingridge passed away in 1989.

The Enfield, Edmonton and Winchmore Hill Commercial Directory 1908-1908 records an entry for Enfield Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Ltd. ( C.E. Hunter, sec) Merton, Chase Ridings, En. Of course this is pre post codes, telephones and even our beloved Mr. Google.

Times came and went and so did the club moving at sometime around early 1910 to its present site;

A picture taken from one of the grass courts close the club house and showing the wall to flats next door to the club and some of the court and net.

This picture is taken from the grass court nearest to the club house and shows the members at their finest in their very latest fashionable sportswear.

Although the Land Registry records were "destroyed by enemy action" it appears that Brigadier Hugh Vivian Collingridge .O.B.E. D.S.O. (16564) Retired Indian Army sold his interest in 71 The Ridgeway around the early 1940's when he and his family left Enfield for good. The following has been compiled from the Archives Department of Enfield Council and is as close to facts as we can get: (Only for those of you with leather pads on your sweaters).

A Brief History of Title Number EGL 186346.

71 The Ridgeway, Enfield.

First entry on the Land Registry 6th December 1941( Everything prior destroyed by enemy action).

Owners named as: Clifford Edward Knight..........Gentleman George Hemmant....................Gentleman Edward Robert Stevens...........Solicitor First Lease 12th February 1947 for a term of 21 years Lessors: Clifford Edward Knight..........Gentleman George Hemmant....................Gentleman Edward Robert Stevens...........Solicitor Lessees:

David Edward Brewster John Adair Douglas Symonds Robert Christopher Clancy Rent; £55.00 pa for seven years, paid quarterly. £60.00 for the next seven years and £70.00 for the last seven years.

First Sold on the 12th February 1947 by Clifford Edward Knight..........Gentleman George Hemmant....................Gentleman Edward Robert Stevens...........Solicitor to A C Nicolas Ltd, Nicolas House, River Front, Southbury Road Sold for £5000.00 lease in place as investment.

New Lease 24th July 1967 Lessor A C Nicolas Ltd Lessees Enfield Lawn Tennis Club David Edward Brewster Charles William Staples Harry Rees Thomas Sidney Highley Rent £55.00 pa paid quarterly Second Sale 2nd August 1969 by A C Nicolas Ltd To The Mayor, Aldermans and Burgesses of London Borough of Enfield actioned by Cyril Earnest Charles Reginald Platten, The Town Clerk.

Sold for £5000.00 New Lease 20th October 1970. Term 28 Years David Edward Brewster Charles William Staples Harry Rees Thomas Michael John Antony Clark Rent £200.00 pa paid quarterly Transfer of Trustees 5th October 1977 From David Edward Brewster Charles William Staples Harry Rees Thomas Michael John Antony Clark To

David Edward Brewster Colin Edward Leslie Pointer Ian Stuart Wick John Bagley New Lease Supplemental 1st April 1970 David Edward Brewster Colin Edward Leslie Pointer Ian Stuart Wick John Bagley Rent Increase from £200.00pa to £400.00 pa.

New Lease 15th July 1986 Term 30 Years Lessors London Borough of Enfield Lessees Enfield Lawn Tennis Club David Edward Brewster Ian Stuart Wick Colin Leonard Hoath Mario Howard Gaveglia Rent £800.00pa paid quarterly rising.

New Lease 5th December 2016 Term 30 Years Some notable trustees and members over the decades include Ian Wick who's tremendous service to the club spanned some sixty years. Colin Hoath, John Bagley, Leslie Pointer and David Brewster.

David Brewster lived here:

But according to Frank Mansell he never visited the club at all. Franks long and distinguished service to the club stretched over thirty years and saw him hold many positions from Men Captain to Bar Manager.

The Sunnyside Story Around 1975 or 76 Sunnyside Tennis Club amalgamated with ELTC joining them at the Ridgeway. Sunnyside were close neighbours of North Enfield Cricket Club and are mentioned in a local newspaper article about North Enfield Cricket Club in 1948.

Alison and Mike Hislop were members of ELTC and Sunnyside and were kind enough to send us a note of some their memories.

"Dear Caroline, Mike remembers that Sunnyside and NECC shared a ground on a field owned by a Mr Stevens with an entry on the left going down Clay Hill before the houses. In 1952 he threw off the cricket club but Sunnyside remained. He used the land of the cricket pitch to sell off the

topsoil. He subsequently built a house at the bottom of Clay Hill just off the road into Whitewebbs. We do not know anymore about Sunnyside tennis club but do know that they hadn't joined ELTC by 1975, which was when we left the latter. Both of us were members of ELTC from the mid to late fifties playing both tennis and table tennis in the teams, so we know much more about ELTC than Sunnyside. There was no real interaction between NECC and Sunnyside after the move to Strayfield Rd. Sunnyside Badminton Club was an off shoot of Sunnyside. Alec Halley may have some information on that he was a member from late fifties.

If you need any more on ELTC please do contact us Good luck with your searches Alison and Mike Hislop" Sunnyside Subscriptions 1973

Derrick Sledge Annually ELTC hold a competition in memory of Derek Sledge. Derek was a most eccentric character and if you ever have the chance do ask some of the longer serving members about him and they will entertain you with fond stories about the old days. Here's a Picture of Derek and some other members including Richard Moon (our man at the Foreign Office) apparently his Mother was an even greater eccentric than Derek. The holiday snap shows Colin Hoath and there are prizes for anyone can name the others.

The 1980's, 90's and beyond.

Saw many things change including the popularity of larger aluminium racquets. ELTC were ahead of the game here and many members started using them to the dismay of many local clubs as we had nearly clean sweep of victories in one year before the competition caught up with this technology!

1995 saw a large grant secured from Sport England and along with the Lottery funds below, which made the Enfield Gazette, ELTC were able to completely refurbish their club house creating the layout it has today. Around ÂŁ45,000.00 was spent in all on the improvements.

The Club House undergoing improvements 1995.

And completed and ready for the 1995 Christmas Party!

The Old Grass Courts being played on. And then the bull dozers clearing them to make way for new hard courts;

"In The Old Days" before our world was digital ELTC would provide every team player with a "Fixtures Card" Here are some examples from1982

Here's how The Minutes were done in 1983

Club Newsletter Summer 1988

June Newsletter

Mens Singles Final 1982

And Finally Love at ELTC

All of this is just a small snippet of the tales of ELTC. The story has just begun and you will write it's future pages.

Enjoy!