Tower and Town, July 2024 (view the full edition)EditorialWimbledon seems to define July - grass courts, tennis whites, Pimms, strawberries and cream, long sunny days and tennis all afternoon on the TV. It's a time when many people take up or come back to the sport for the fresh air, exercise, competition and social interaction. The Lawn Tennis Association is celebrating 150 Years since the invention of the game on grass. Designed to make maximum use of your croquet lawn (should you have one) and be a sociable way for men and women to join in a more active game. In Marlborough and the surrounding area, there were probably quite a few big houses and estates with tennis courts by the end of the 19th Century, but it wasn't until 1911 that a town club was set up on land opposite the Common at the top of Kingsbury Street and not until the 1920s that an Old Marlburian funded facilities at the College. After those Kingsbury Street courts were sold off for housing, the search for a new home eventually led to the present Golf Club; a long process to create six courts on three tiers nestled amongst the trees was completed by members of the long standing committee. We have Roger Wheeler, Hilda Moore, Gareth Clarke, Anne Carroll and Barbara Jones (amongst others) to thank for their tenacity in securing the site and following through to completion in 2018. Over the winter, the latest expansion of the club has been the building of our two storey stand-out clubhouse, designed to take us into the future in style. The committee has also expanded and changed to include many newer members to take the club forward. Saturday 13th July will be a big celebration launch day, with various tournaments including one with a vintage theme. Dig out the old Dunlop Maxply and come and join us! Jo Payne |