Club History
1899
Frinton-On-Sea Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1899 and given the grand name ‘The Frinton Lawn Tennis, Croquet and Bowls Club’
1900-1910
In its third year of existence, it held an open tournament and attracted people from all around the district. This tournament grew into worldwide significance with a number of Wimbledon champions featuring on the winners’ list. By 1908, there was a tremendous enthusiasm for the game, and 19 courts were played each season.
1910-1914
By 1913, there was anxiety by members that the annual Open Tournament was to much of an expenditure for the cost and that it should be suspended. After committees disagreed on the decision, a secretary resigned giving way to Percy J. Bangs (Popsy). He brought a completely new thinking to the club and immediately reversed the decision on the tournament and the club held a successful championship in 1914 - a few days before the Great War.
During the Great War, the Club remained open, however, there are no existing records detailing the extent of the reduction in its activities.
1918-1930
Once the Great War ended at the end of 1918, the club was back in full swing! Many famous names of both visitors and players were recorded.
The Early twenties saw the Club a centre of enthusiastic social life. During these years, one of the visitors was the Prince of Wales. He preferred to remain unrecognisable when he visited and waited his turn at the bar like any other folk.
Winston Churchill was also a regular visitor with his family. Along with a number of film stars including Gladys Cooper, Douglas Fairbanks & Robert Morley.
The Bar was introduced in 1925, which saw a boom in membership!
Unfortunately, in 1927, the annual Open Tournament was washed out 2 days before it was due to start! The courts were flooded up to the full height of the nets. However, the club carried on and later in the year during August, the Ladies’ team challenged the rest of England and only just lost!
Up until 1930, the courts were cut by a pony mower until mechanisation of lawn mowers were introduced.
1931 - 1939
The Club was a bustling environment with high-spirited people. This was long before it became the fashion to go abroad during the middle of the thirties.
During this time, the club had a roaring success from its Saturday dances and was encouraged to expand its ballroom to what you now see today. It was paid for by members who took up units of the new debenture issue.
The war years of 1939 - 1945 were extremely difficult for Frinton as it was considered a dangerous area.
Joint club captain at the time, Norman Pertwee, was able to make close contact with military personal in the area and came to mutual agreement which enabled the club to be continued - also at a great advantage to a lot of the service personal.
1945 - 1950
At the end of the war, an emergency committee was quickly started to reconstitute the club, and by 1946, the club could hold its first Annual open tournament.
The squash courts were introduced by the club in 1947 on a rental basis. Conversations were had with the Golf Club to make the Maryland’s into a joint clubhouse, but after being considered, the plans were rejected.
Archery and Croquet became very popular at the club, and the first professional exhibition of tennis was played in 1948.
Politics still remained within the members, and a referendum had to be held over the use of ‘Court 5’. It was currently a Show Court, but there were plans for it to be converted into a ‘Tea Lawn’. The referendum was held and ultimately rejected, and the court was restored to a Show Court. The tea activities were moved to the west of the clubhouse.
1950 - 1960
In the early fifties, the Junior Open Tournament was started, and this still runs now as the ‘Frinton Open Tournament’.
The fifties were a very difficult period for the club; despite numerous attempts of many new introductions, it struggled to stay out of the red.
1960 - 1967
In 1960 County Week was introduced at the club and the squash courts in Old Way were purchased by members subscribing to a debenture.
Junior use at the club soared to a remarkable degree and was given every encouragement
1968
The land the club was sat on was owned by the Cooper Estate. Up until now, the club has paid the lease the land from the Estate. Although this was favourable for many years, with the club expanding there was a worrying feeling of spending the money whilst someone else owned the land. In spite of the financial climate it was decided to endeavour to raise money to purchase the land in the hope of them improving the amenities at the club. Fortunately, the members rallied well and the sum of £11,000 was contributed by the way of debentures and life memberships!
Through this, the pool was built which increased the social activity at the club. The 3 squash courts were also built which led to further success
1969-1980
Sponsors were brought in for the open tournament and but until 1968 it was all done on very tight margins.
In 1970 Mrs Jones & Mrs Court (both Wimbledon winners) were in the Frinton Final. After losing the first set, Mrs Court came back and won the match.
An important development at the club was the growth of squash. In the second half of 1970 the membership was rising to more than 400 people!
In 1976 the Frinton International Veterans Week was launched! It attracted more than 70 entrants in the first year with finalists from South Africa and Australia. Dudley Stationary which took up sporting the event as a sponsor in 1987.
1980-1990
A practise wall for tennis was added in 1981, utilising the outside wall of the squash courts.
In 1982, 4 hard courts were sold off for residential development to raise sufficient cash to build 6 new hard courts on the original croquet lawns. And to pay for the considerable back-log of repairs required.
In 1986 carpet bowls were introduced for the winter season.
Robin Tomkins assessed as £300,000 plus, the minimum value of the club.
For the past 15 years the club has started to struggle from a financial position. Despite a variety attempts to improve the position, by increasing memberships, social activities, attracting capital grants and through attempts to widen sponsorship there was little improvement.
Meanwhile the need for new capital investment and refurbishment remained.
1991-1999
The Veteran’s tournament built interest year on year, and with Dudley’s stationary sponsorship, it helped attract more and more high-level players.
In 1991, the exhibition tennis matches were organised and saw many Wimbledon ex-champions.
Stan Smith and Ille Nastase (a replay of their great Wimbledon Final of 1972). Bob Hewitt and Fred Stolle also showed their winning Wimbledon skills on the court.
Virginia Wade, Sue Barker, Betty Stove, Yvonne Goolagong, Tony Roche & Frew McMillan were among the greats to play. There was a fabulous gathering of talent, giving the club a very special view of the former world of top tennis.
In 1992, Martin Guntrip became the Captain of the club, a previous Wimbledon competitor himself.
1993 – Indoor Winter bowls closed after several seasons. In 1994 financing situation was worsening, then Secretary David Taylor, thought he’d found an unusual but exciting offer from Kazakhstan which appeared to likely bridge the financial burden. Although it was helpful by the end of the season, the finances looked worrying again. The members, however, enjoyed Kazakhstan’s musical party and dinner events!
The pro shop was constructed in 1997 by partitioning a corner of the ballroom and the shop was franchised out.
The club position started to improve with a surplus of the 1997 year end of £14,501.
The new years event for the centenary was very well attended with 167 guests! They enjoyed champagne and plenty of dancing until midnight.
The plans for 2000 was for an irrigation system, an airdome over hard courts A & B, and 2 open days to celebrate the centenary year! And the drive to get to 1,000 members was on!
