SEVEN members of Stockton Heath Tennis Club were invited to spend a day at Wimbledon to celebrate their club’s centenary year.
Players Alison Lewis, Maria Boundy, Bill Moore and Aidan Williams joined officials Steve Fensom, Jane Argent and Sandra Birks on the trip, along with representatives of five other clubs in the UK also celebrating their centenary.
All agreed it was “the experience of a lifetime.”
The All England Lawn Tennis Club is probably the most prestigious tennis club in the world and boasts a membership including Andy Murray, Tim Henman, The Duchess of Cambridge, and Mervyn King amongst its select group of 350 full members.
The Stockton Heath party were given a fascinating insight into the club, its history and its facilities.
They had lunch on the Members Terrace and a tour of the buildings and grounds, including the Centre Court which still had the scoreboard showing the result of the Murray vs Djokovic final.
Changing rooms, press rooms, Henman Hill and the Tennis Museum were included in the tour.
The players were allowed a warm-up session on the hallowed turf and then took part in round robin matches against tough opposition – most fiercely from All England Club members, some of who were the best in the UK in their age group – including a 75-year-old!
After a quick change there was dinner and a presentation in the impressive Millennium Building attended by top All England Club officials.
Stockton Heath chairman Steve Fensom received, on behalf of the club, a photograph of the occasion and a newly published book on the history of Wimbledon.
Jane Argent said: “The whole day was truly amazing. Everyone made a huge effort to welcome us and ensure the day was one to remember. To gain an insight into what goes into holding the Wimbledon tournament,particularly in this historic year, was very special.
“To have our centenary year acknowledged and celebrated by the All England Club made all the hard work of being part of a voluntary committee seem very worthwhile.”
Picture: The Stockton Heath players in front of the historic scoreboard.
