The last toast - THE ROYAL Tennis Court
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THE
ROYAL
Tennis Court
The last toast
RTC lifts the Pol Roger trophy
See page 4
Covid-19 and the (unknown) future - Chairman’s report
See pages 2 and 3
Boomerang special
See Page 5
The Spring Newsletter 2020
Number 128
020 8977 3015 info@royaltenniscourt.com www.royaltenniscourt.com
1
Chairman’s CHAT The first thing that would have
to change is some kind of formal
I’d like to start by thanking all members for your relaxation of the lockdown that
continuing support during the Covid-19 lockdown. I would explicitly include certain
won’t rehearse again the events that have got us to this sports - eg tennis, cycling etc -
point, or the steps we have taken to sustain the Club where participants are not in
during this uncertain time. We have sent e-mails to close contact. Another specific
everyone and there is a separate report on all the category might be gyms where
events of the last year going out from me with the social distancing could be
provisional AGM papers. As you will see there, the implemented. In either case, I think we might then be
th th able to interpret Real Tennis as being in the same
AGM on 17 May has been postponed to (hopefully) 9
August. We are in touch with all our Professional team category. We are looking to the LTA for guidance on
on a regular basis. They are keeping themselves active how they are approaching the challenge and we are
and are in good spirits. While on furlough they are busy also getting advice from the T&RA.
but of course not able to take part in activities that Second, we would then need Historic Royal Palaces
would earn revenue for the club. either to be ready open the Palace gardens to the
What I’m sure you would all like to know is how and public or their agreement that our members could pass
when the Club might re-open. Here is our assessment. through Trophy Gate. With those two things known to
Right now (as I write at the end of April) we have be coming into place, the Board and Professional team
nothing from the Government to go on. All we know is will propose a way of operating the club and playing
that we have at least another two to three weeks of again. There will clearly need to be a strong emphasis
lockdown and then… who knows? on personal safety.
Board Talk 03/02/2020 (Pre-lockdown!)
The Board had put significant focus on was again very successful both socially
Matters Arising: Tenancy agreements refurbishing club Pro apartments. The (~230 attendees) and financially. The
for our professionals housed in write off of the depreciation on the Chairman's Event will be a quiz night
apartments have been drawn up, capital cost of the court lights will be and will take place on Saturday 16 May,
leaving them with the individual Pros to complete mid-2020. Debt levels have the intent is that profits are split
sign and return. stabilised. between the Junior and the Pro funds.
OS is considering how to organise a
Premises: PM presented his report. The welcome event for Scott Blaber and
Professional's Report: NW said court
locks on the changing room drawers are family.
usage is at its normal good levels with
being refurbished and members will be
no causes for concern. Josh Smith is
able to store their equipment in them
playing in the US Open at Chicago, and is Juniors: The Board was very pleased
for an annual fee. NW and PM are
then Chris Chapman's chosen practice with the progress of our junior groups
discussing the cost and prioritisation of
partner for the final World and with the very successful Queens'
refurbishment of the Pro room. An audit
Championship Eliminator between Chris Foundation funded visit of 48 children
and ‘tidy up’ of the archive room is
and Camden Riviere in Boston. The from Macaulay Church of England
needed.
Board fully support this opportunity for Primary School in Clapham (where Katy
Josh as a part of his development as Doy teaches) on 21 January, who were
Membership: The Board is looking anew
RTC's Tournament Professional. Scott on court for two hours with Josh Smith
at the entrance fee for joining RTC,
Blaber, our new assistant professional, is and Scott Blaber.
which may be an inhibitor to a potential
settling in well and demonstrating the
member's joining. Any such change
professionalism and commitment we
would require approval from the AGM. Congratulations to the RTC junior team
expect and need. NW had a productive
who beat Radley away in the Peter
meeting with HRP's Head of Hampton Tennis and Tournaments: The A grade
Lucke Hille Cup on 2 February.
Court Palace, Lucy Hutchings, who is training sessions are now being well
supporting our needs with HRP. received by all attendees. Entries for The
Any Other Business: Cloth of Gold
King's Goblet are open and it is expected
Trophy Members have enthusiastically
again to be over-subscribed.
Finance: IW outlined the 2019 financial supported a trophy match at
performance vs budget, showing a net Fontainebleau to celebrate the
profit slightly ahead of that budgeted. Social: The Carol Service in December anniversary of the Cloth of Gold treaty.
2
We envisage at least the same restrictions that we had during In the meantime we are in touch with our Pro team on a
the last week we were open ie: singles only, closed dedans, regular basis. They are keeping themselves active, are well
closed club rooms except for providing a waiting area to play, and are in good spirits. Whilst on furlough they are busy but
no 10-minute mark, no personal visits to the Professionals’ of course not able to take part in activities that would earn
revenue for the club. We look forward to seeing them again as
office, distancing on court and especially when changing ends,
soon as possible.
gloved hand only in contact with the balls, no cash
transactions with all payments by card or direct debit. Given ***
the general understandable nervousness about the Covid-19
The current crisis is affecting everyone but over the next few
risk, I expect that this kind of regime could be in place for
weeks you might also spare a thought for Grays, the
many weeks or months.
traditional manufacturer of our racquets in the UK. All of us
How long will it take to do all this? I think we could switch on value their continuing commitment to providing this essential
to being open as above pretty quickly – a few days perhaps, piece of kit, without which we would presumably have to go
with an e-mail notification to all members about opening for back to using our hands. Business will be tough for the
bookings from a given date. My best guess at when this company in the months ahead so this is a great moment to
might be? Perhaps (fingers crossed) sometime in June, but be treat yourself to a new racquet. Once back from furlough,
assured that we are alert to all emerging changes and we are Nick will be delighted to take your order!
in constant dialogue about getting under way again.
***
Only when we are open again, as the wider situation
Stay safe and I hope to be seeing all of you again, in a suitably
continues to ease and we understand how members are
socially-distanced way, before too long.
feeling, can we start to consider how and when a more
normal operating regime might apply, including doubles play,
tournaments and so on - and how, eventually and most
Michael Day CVO
importantly, we can find a great way to thank all of you for
sticking with us through this difficult period.
Absent of members, the club is David Best’s fantastic book, The
quiet. An appropriate time of Just Joshing Royal Tennis Court - A History of
reflection. I can almost hear my Tennis at Hampton Court Palace,
thoughts bouncing back towards
(on his own) will find. In the hustle and bustle of
me off the walls (a scary thought in ‘normality’, it’s easy to walk briskly
itself). I wanted to break away from through this history.
Covid-19, its impact, and the myriad
Stories from the modern era too:
of articles on the wonderful ways to
players, World Champions,
get through the challenges.
Championships and Challengers,
Although interesting and helpful to
our fantastic Professionals and
read, I fancied an alternative.
wonderful members. We each
In the quiet, the court takes on a create stories and share in others. I
different persona. When empty, the can’t help but wonder what stories
court is cooler, feels larger and are yet to be lived, and will be told
sound moves differently around the in another 100, 200, and hopefully
space. It feels older, somehow more 500 years time.
special. The court corridor tells of
closely connected to its origins, and
tennis, language, Royals and I am truly grateful to be here. This
one is reminded of the history here.
colourful characters; trademark sport has character and personality
We are privileged to play here, handkerchiefs, vast wagers won I personally have not experienced in
sharing the Royal Tennis Court with and lost, and matches tied to any other. We all ought to take an
stories that been lived and told over farmyard animals. A personal active part in that whilst the court is
500 years. The combination of the favourite is the Privy Purse closed, and when we reopen - as we
place, and the people who have Expenses entry for the 15th will. Until we meet again…
passed through here, makes it December 1531, which a dive into Josh Smith
3
Trebles all round!
The Pol Roger trophy is the amateur level of the blocks and stormed the first set 6/0
inter-club championships, with each match with some ruthless play, leaving their
made up of 3 singles and 2 doubles opponents looking shell shocked.
matches. RTC have made it to the final for
Queen’s, and in particular Ben, decided to
the last two years but lost 3/2 both times.
throw caution to the wind and it paid off -
Having made routine progress to the final
some outrageous shot-making gave them
on March 7 this year they were hoping to
the second set 6/3. Fittingly it came down
break the trend against Queen’s Club.
to the final set, where Peter and David
Up first were Charlie Packham and James steadied the ship and some more errors
Sohl against Freddie Kalfayan and Richard started to show from the Queen’s pair.
Elmitt. Charlie and James have been a safe Ultimately RTC’s quality came through and
bet all season, combining James’s killer Peter and David took the final set 6/3,
instinct at net with Charlie’s reliable which started the celebrations and the
retrieving. The first set followed this flow of superb Pol Roger champagne!
pattern and RTC went ahead 6/3. But
A big thank you to all our supporters who
Queen’s fought back and took it to a
made the journey, to Nick Wood for his
deciding set, but some brutal play from
advice on the day, to Oratory for hosting
James helped RTC to close out the match.
the match, Nino Merola and Levi Gale for
Captain Phil Dunn had his work cut out for man found his best tennis when he marking the matches and to Pol Roger for
him playing Matthieu Sarlangue, one of needed it and won the second set 6/4. sponsoring the competition. The cover
the top-ranked amateurs in the world. The photograph shows captain Phil Dunn
Knowing a win in either of the last two
match was full of excellent tennis and Phil receiving the trophy from James Simpson
matches would be enough to take the
definitely gave Matthieu something to MW, managing director of Pol Roger.
trophy Tom Freeman was up against Jonny
think about; however it was not to be, and
Whitaker. Tom dug deep and came from Results: 2nd Doubles: Charlie Packham & James
the match went 6/2, 6/2 to Queen’s.
behind to win a topsy-turvy first set 6/5. Sohl beat Freddie Kalfayan & Richard Elmitt 6/3
Next James Watson took on Matt Shaw, However, Jonny gathered himself and 3/6 6/3. 1st Singles: Phil Dunn lost to Matthieu
where Queens’s had the advantage on found some fierce hitting to win the next Sarlangue 2/6 2/6. 2nd Singles: James Watson
paper. However, a determined looking beat Matt Shaw 6/2 6/4. 3rd Singles: Tom
two sets 6/2, 6/1.
Freeman lost to Jonny Whitaker 6/5 2/6 1/6. 1st
James took to the court more quickly than
This meant it all went down to the final Doubles: Peter Wright & David Watson beat
his opponent and won the first set 6/2.
match, with Peter Wright and David Harry Eddis & Ben Boddington 6/0 3/6 6/3
The second set was a tense affair with
Watson facing Harry Eddis and Ben
Matt starting to find his rhythm and James
Boddington. The RTC pair came flying out
James Watson
losing his accuracy on serve. But RTC’s
Prithee, ‘tis happeneth before...
RTC members may be utterly fed up with being denied access to our wealthy were probably unaffected, but they would almost certainly
wonderful tennis court during this coronavirus outbreak, but it is have been deserted as first the nobility and gentry fled, quickly
not the first time tennis courts have been shut down to help followed by Charles II, who went first to Hampton Court and then
prevent the spread of an epidemic. to Oxford where he felt safer.
Back in 1665 London was stuck by the Great Plague. This was a It may be of some comfort for members to know that, like a tennis
bubonic plague that wiped out an estimated 100,000 people, a ball, the courts came bouncing back. However, there was a sting in
quarter of the capital’s population. the tail, for the following year the Great Fire of London broke out,
and while it helped to suppress the plague it destroyed most of the
While the plague was raging the authorities took steps to prevent
old wooden-walled tennis courts in the City.
its spread. These measures included the closure of all places of
entertainment and games, and ‘Such like Causes of Assemblies of Perhaps we should be thankful that we have not been under the
People’. These closures included the public Royal Tennis courts, of threat of ‘Severe Prosecution’ and of having our doors padlocked
which two could be found in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, another at the from the outside, with a watchman on guard to make sure no one
Haymarket end of Piccadilly, and several older ones in the City, escaped. Not to mention the dreaded Red Cross painted on the
many attached to taverns. front door should any of us catch this dreadful virus…
Royal courts and those in the grounds of the private houses of the David Best
4
History of the Boomerang Cup
In 1993 The Royal Melbourne Tennis
Club (RMTC) invited Bordeaux,
Manchester and Philadelphia to
compete in a teams’ handicap event.
Manchester accepted the invitation,
and in January 1994 a match took
place between RMTC and The
Manchester Tennis and Racquet
Simon Cripps, left, and RTC members at the tournament welcome reception Club. The match - singles and
doubles - was won by Manchester.
A bonzer Boomerang!
As a first timer to the Boomerang glade of the city suburbs went - to qualify for the KO stages and
Afterwards players assembled at
the house of Allan Willingham, a
Melbourne member, and burned a
Cup at Royal Melbourne Tennis rather jetlagged - straight to came through the last 16, the boomerang in his back yard. The
Club (RMTC) my first impression RMTC, walking into the Pro shop quarter-finals and into the semi- ashes were gathered and now rest
was the sheer scale of the and a very warm welcome from finals, where we met our match in an attachment to the
competition: 165 players across Chris Chapman, who gave me a 5-8. An incredible experience and Boomerang Cup trophy – and so
32 teams from the UK, USA, the tour of the club. I suddenly felt we came off court to a fantastic began the Boomerang Cup. Today
Netherlands and Australia. I also right at home. team bbq that Lesley had it is a teams’ handicap doubles
realised that this was going to be prepared, at which we drowned competition, with an individual
competitive when I saw the Lesley, Bruce and John took a our sorrows. handicap doubles competition. The
names of Julian Snow and Penny long look at the fixtures in our tournament, now biennial, grew
Lumley in the mix! group of Hobart Devils, Hardwick A huge thank you to my and grew: in January 2007 there
Hackers, Ballarat Nuggets and teammates and to RMTC – this is were 37 teams and 220 visitors,
Teams play in groups in a round- Seacourt Sirens and realised we only a small glimpse of what the including 24 from overseas Clubs.
robin section. The top teams had landed in a very tough Boomerang experience is about
move to the finals and the other group. The assessment proved and the camaraderie shared,
Played in January, the tournament
teams into a keenly-contested correct: we had some difficult especially with the Oxford
is a great opportunity to escape
plate event. There is also a highly matches and only managed to Unicorns and the Seacourt
the northern winter. RMTC
competitive handicap doubles defeat Seacourt Sirens. As a Sirens, was amazing.
members are renowned for
tournament in which pairings result the Royal Tennis Court opening their homes to visitors,
play in groups in a round-robin Thorns moved into the plate It was interesting to note the others stay in hotels. There is lots
section, with the top pairings competition only to meet the other teams’ custom-made shirts of tennis but also lots of time off -
moving into the KO stage and the Scappers, another RMTC team. and rackets for the tournament – each player plays six or seven days
finals. My abiding memory was facing maybe something for the Royal out of the 12, giving plenty of time
Vince Scopeliti (one of the Tennis Court Thorns to consider to enjoy the many delights of
There is no shortage of Real organising directors of the for the Boomerang 2022? The Melbourne.
Tennis on the two courts at Boomerang Cup) and his planning starts now!
RMTC, with the tournament devastating range of railroad
starting on the 11th January and serves, to which I had no answer. Simon Cripps
finals day of the Boomerang Cup The Real Tennis Court Thorns
and handicap doubles on the 25th crashed out of the plate. The romance of Romsey
January. Courts open at 07.15
and finish at 22.00 in order to Meanwhile, in the handicap As a sidebar to the Boomerang tournament my doubles partner Ian Barry
process all the matches. doubles I teamed up with Ian and I visited Romsey Real Tennis Court, which is unique - but sadly due to
Barry (honorary Thorns member be closed and sold. The gentleman caretaking the property told us we were
The organisation is amazing, with and fellow West Ham Utd fan) to probably playing the last match at Romsey!
functions and great Australian play our first group match
hospitality throughout. The against a local RMTC pairing. I The court, one hour north of Melbourne, is a relatively new court built in
finals dinner and prizegiving are had no idea what to expect but the 1990s but used in recent times as an art gallery. It was owned by Gor-
don Cope-Williams who, when he heard about HRH Prince Edward making
held at the Australian Club in we had tremendous support in
his world tour of Real Tennis courts in 2018, converted it back to a Real
Melbourne. RMTC even the dedans from all our
Tennis court in time for his visit. Gordon sadly recently passed away and
commissioned unique teammates, family and friends. the property, which includes a vineyard, conference centre and cricket
monographs from the cartoonist pitch, is now for sale. The future of the Real Tennis court looks uncertain.
Michael Lindell (‘Miko’) It was all a bit of a blur but
lampooning all the teams. through the intensive use of As there is no official Romsey club or members Royal Melbourne supplied
what I now know is called the us with a basket of Romsey balls and we played for two hours. The court
Every team has a nickname and African Hunting Dog serve we has a glass wall behind the receiver’s end and is several feet longer than
Lesley Ronaldson, Bruce Leith won 8-1. I was maybe a bit too RTC’s court. The walls are also made of different materials, which took
some adjustment. The viewing galleries are set very high and the ball has
(captain), John Dagnall, Ian Barry focused, as Ian actually had to
an unpredictably high bounce - ball boys would be an asset!
and I arrived at RMTC as the tell me that the match had
Royal Tennis Court Thorns (think finished!. We finished our game with a bottle of sparkling wine from the estate to
Tudor rose…). toast the short history of Romsey. It is sad it may close as Romsey is unique
For me this was the highlight of on so many different levels. I think a few RTC members would approve of
I got to Melbourne on the 7th and the tournament, even though Ian the positioning of the lounge bar area right behind the glass wall, not to
after visiting my billet in a leafy and I won all our group matches mention the wine on tap from the vineyard! SC
5
Loving lockdown? You bet...
RTC’s mysterious Night Player finds an empty club rather to his liking
He had seen it all before. these were the only signs of
After the Great War had his presence, he was quite
removed practically every invisible. Only the children
loved and familiar name from sometimes stared, as if
his address book, some filthy glimpsing a shadow and
pestilence had swept in from wondering what had made it.
God knew where to attack the
A knowledge of the television
ranks of those who had
controls was quickly
stayed on the Home Front. No
mastered, Sky Sports
longer was death limited to
discovered and after an hour
the trenches, now it visited
of hit and miss, the Sky racing
the nurseries, the drawing
channel hove into view. In a
rooms and bedrooms of the
delirium of joy, he found
homes for heroes, the young
instructions of how to set up
and fit its preferred prey. This
an account through the club’s
latest bout seemed to have a
mobile phone with the Sky
different target audience but
bet app.
the results were the same.
Quarantine, the tennis court Never had losing money been
shut down, British horse so easy. Aubrey was gratified
racing cancelled. to note that Gideon’s debit
card expired in October 2021.
Not that it mattered much to
No fears then of a premature
Aubrey St John Harmsworth,
curtailment to the fun.
the RTC Club Champion of
1934, for funds were And the world was suddenly
lamentably low: non-existent his oyster. The Scandinavian
in fact. Friend Taylor, his race courses of Halmstead
previous ‘banker’, was absent, and Ostersund beckoned him
cowering in his cottage. Not to place his bets, from
that he could blame the little Oklahoma the thunder of
fellow; one of the Elderly hooves around the Will
handsome leather wallet Times revealed reports of
Court Blockers, he was Rogers Downs track
containing a number of debit racing from around the world
understandably nervous of quickened his blood and the
and credit cards, all belonging and his sporting soul yearned
the virus. Never the less, siren call of Hong Kong’s
to Gideon Turbot-Fyshe, an for the track. The miracle of
there had been an abrupt Happy Valley made his
accomplished player and a technology, combined with
thoughtlessness about his restless soul soar.
scion of the Hampshire Gideon’s generosity, would
sudden absence that rankled.
Fyshes. enable him to partake and he There was a plentiful supply
Wandering into the office he hastened about getting the of the very drinkable house
From his eyrie in the gallery,
found it deserted. The staff arrangements in place. claret, enough beer to ensure
Aubrey had often watched
were on Government that the next three months
and admired the lad’s spirited In isolation he had the use of
Furlough, not allowed to lift a would be convivial - and
play. Before the war he had the club telephone and
finger under the strictures of limitless funds from the family
known the family well. Old Baird’s visual miracle in the
the rules. Aubrey had a quick Fyshe.
Freddie Fyshe and he had sitting room, surely it was not
trawl through the desk
shared many a bottle at the beyond the wit of man to Settling comfortably onto the
drawers in search of details as
Café Royale and Aubrey felt conquer these complexities? sofa, Aubrey felt he had dealt
to how long this incarceration
confident that young Gideon With the families marooned rather well with this
would last.
would not begrudge him the in their flats, Aubrey was free emergency.
“This is a vital update from necessary means for an to solve the technological
As a previous prime minister
the Government about innocent flutter, indeed he mysteries undisturbed.
would have said: “Crisis, what
Coronavirus” didn’t tell him would probably be very glad
Occasionally an empty wine crisis?”
much that he didn’t know to do so.
glass would be noticed or a
already - but of more Paul Davis
An assiduous search of The newspaper tidied away but
immediate interest was a
6Tournaments etc - the News In Brief
In a spirit of defiance and the
state of (non) play pursuit of useless trivia, the club is
pleased to announce that the
lockdown isn't going to stop us
The lockdown has played havoc with our independent mathematician to assign exercising your grey matter! Join
plans for RTC fixtures and tournaments, as winners and MVPs. us for the Chairman’s Quiz on
previous e-mails to members have
Second, a message and a plea for Saturday 16th May at 7.30pm, for
indicated. With the club now closed for an a 7.45pm start. One slight twist:
opinions on the club’s tennis and
indeterminate period of time, the Tennis
tournament “offer to members”: this quiz will be virtual! Look out
and Tournaments Committee has decided
that: The club has an extensive programme of for an e-mail dropping into your
national and intra-club tournaments, inbox with further details soon.
- the King's Goblet, the Summer Pennant
social fixtures, training and development
and the remainder of the Spring Pennant The quiz will be streamed on the
to offer its members. But is there
have been cancelled. RTC YouTube channel http://
anything we could do differently? Maybe
- the Lathom Browne, Harris Watson and you have seen or heard of something at bit.ly/RTCStreaming and a Google
Barker Camm tournaments will be another club that we should do here? Or Form will be provided for
completed at their earliest convenience an idea that you have had for a while but submitting answers. Be sure to
once the court re-opens and it is safe to have forgotten to suggest? join us for the chance to be
do so.
Now is your opportunity! As we start to crowned RTC Quiz Champions
- all social matches have been cancelled plan what the next season looks like we 2020! Katy Doy
for the rest of this season. are keen to get your views. Please send
your thoughts and suggestions to Missing your tennis? Why not join
- for the National League, the cut-off
tennis.and.tournaments@royaltenniscou the online racquet “keepy-uppy”
point for matches to be finished is the
rt.com - any and all ideas are welcome! challenge that's doing the rounds
19th July. Matches not played by that
Giles Doy
point will be determined by an on social media? It all started with
Adam Player, the Pro at
Editor’s Note: This edition of the Newsletter is e-delivery only as the Club is closed
Wellington – it would be great to
for envelope-stuffing. Members please share this by your personal e-mail if you
see as many RTC members try it as
know a fellow member who only receives a postal copy. This Spring edition will
possible. Follow this Instagram
later be combined with the Summer edition to ensure continuity of the printed
link https://www.instagram.com/
product. With our tennis future currently uncertain, the Editor would welcome
p/B-Fp18yJzMy/ and remember:
contributions, written or pictured, to the next Newsletter, likely to appear in late it’s ten bounces of a tennis ball –
August. Please submit copy to newsletter@royaltenniscourt.com . against the side of a tennis
Thanks, and I hope you keep safe and well. This too will end. Andy Anderson, Editor racquet! Giles Doy
Wood’s (wise) Words
I believe it’s the simple things in life that are important: As to Happiness, regardless of the result joy comes from
Health and Happiness. many different quarters, and all in varying degrees for
each participant. The ‘W!’, the physical or mental
At RTC we are privileged to have such a resolute and
exercise, the sense of achievement towards a goal, the
determined membership. A membership that enjoys the
sharing of the court and time with like-minded people
sport of Real Tennis, an activity that contributes to their
and friends, where we can lose ourselves in the history
health and happiness - though that’s not always evident
and the splendour of Real Tennis, the club and the palace.
when a handicap point slips away!
Keep it simple, keep it fun and keep it healthy. The Royal
The truly determined and resolute characters understand
Tennis Court and its Professionals is very grateful to a
that although a win is often more fun, there is always
wonderful membership for supporting the club and the
next time and that every time it is both the physical and
game of Real Tennis.
complex nature of the game that keeps the mind and
body stimulated and Healthy. Nick Wood
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