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Brenda Whitaker was Grime Queensland Australia Monday, November 29, 2010 08:38	Sutton Park Tennis Courts The tennis courts and the pavilion were both a distinct meeting place - as mentioned by David Laycock in another forum topic. I have such happy memories of the tennis courts and the situation as a teenager. It was quite usual to go and sit on the seat of the pavilion with racquet in hand and possibly a couple of tennis balls in hand, just waiting for someone to come along to play. Inevitably someone would do so and be prepared to play singles, double and somehow we even managed threesomes! The best memories were of the weekend tennis tournaments- organised by Raymond Whitaker, Ronnie Smith and his brother (sorry I forget the christian name.) These were organised on a ad-hoc basis. the adults and decent players were very tolerant of the 'juniors' like me and my friends and it took a whole day to play through the group. The pavilion had two changing rooms - the men's on the left hand side facing the courts and the ladies on the right hand side (the park pond side). We had new balls to play with, somehow provided by ? ? ?. I never remember paying for the privilege, but someone must have provided the necessary finance to cover costs. It was always just the greatest day, the adults were so tolerant of the young players and I know that I didn't appreciate it at the time. Gosh, how different it would be today. I can rabbit on more but will leave it for now to see if anyone else has such fond memories of the park tennis courts and the people who congregated there.
Alan Pickles Bingley Monday, November 29, 2010 10:51	Hi Brenda, The name that you were searching for is Phillip. He and his wife Heather? were quite good players as was Raymond, despite his disability, Amongst the younger end players was one who I think represented the County, Enid Foster, so it wasn't just the older players who were good. Peter Barsby, Michael Lynch, Robert Barrett and Denis were all reasonable to good. Better than me anyway.The organisation of the competitions was brilliant but like you, I never gave it a thought. The courts have now ceased to be but the last time I walked through the shed was still as it used to be. Keep rabbiting.
Howard Barrett Silsden Monday, November 29, 2010 12:22	FYI: Phillip Smith's wife was called Joyce. Heather was their daughter.
Brenda Whitaker was Grime Queensland Australia Monday, November 29, 2010 21:11	Thanks Howard - I recalled it was Heather's dad as she was in the guides and on the photo identified by you and Christine. Alan - thanks for some names, I was going to add the ones that immediately came to mind and you have some of them. A lot of the YPF and Rec Club people played so the names are familiar. Enid Foster was in the same form as me at KGGS and I seem to recall she played at junior Wimbledon. Boundary Ave was also represented by such as Frank Barrett, Marjory Binns (did David play?)and as you say, Peter Barsby. I believe the Garnett brothers played, The McWhinney's who lived just at the gate there, Eleanor Buck who occasionally brought a cousin, Will ? who stayed with them during holidays. I lived opposite Raymond Whitaker and his sisters Miss Maggie and Miss Jessie, so I have particular fond memories there. Raymond was a great source of tennis balls, he would provide some then take then home, wash them and they looked like new the next time he played. He worked at a bank in Keighley and used to give us kids brand new pennies at Christmas. I wonder if anyone has any photos of those times.
Tony Ingham Sutton Monday, November 29, 2010 21:49	Brenda, Once again, Glyn,s photo of Gordon Street, 1B. Raymond Whitaker is in number 6 doorway, But no tennis balls.
Denis Marshall Pickles Norfolk Monday, November 29, 2010 21:56	A few more names: Alan Barrett, the father of John and Robert, John Wetherill. Sheila Bancroft played occasionally as did my cousin, Colin Pickles and 'Palf'. And Brenda Holmes also took part.... and Alan Catterall I've been trying to remember how the tournaments which the 'adults' ran were organised. Everyone was involved - they weren't 'knock-out' tournaments. If you took part, you played for the duration of the tournament and you were partnered in different rounds by different people. I think they were called American Tournaments. Can't recall the forulae for ensuring that you were paired with the good players and those not so good -I think lots were drawn for your first round partner [mixed teams - male and female] and you played one set against another male/female team. In the second round, you played with a different partner, the winning male had moved up and the winning female moved down the order ............ I think! Help me out someone! It's complicated!
Brenda Whitaker was Grime Queensland Australia Tuesday, November 30, 2010 21:13	Tony - thanks for pointing me in the direction of a photo. I am still working my way through the collection. By the way do you have any photos of the horse and milk float that was used to deliver Ingham's milk 'in the olden days' - like when I was a kid ! Denis, your recollection of the way the tournament worked is the same as mine but I cant recollect any more detail other than moving up or down and also cumulative individual scores being kept as well. I can still see that large sheet of paper though with Ronnie and Phillip pouring over it at the end of each game. Not only did you change partners each time but I also think you changed courts as well - most people seemed to have a preference for the left hand side one for some reason.

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