CHEDDAR LAWN TENNIS CLUB MILESTONES

11th Jan 1924  -  John Tyson and Ernest Pavey invite villagers interested in forming a tennis club to a meeting at Lewis' Rooms (pic 1).

21st Jan 1924  -  Inaugural meeting resulting in a tennis club being formed in Cheddar in part of a field in Barrows Road. Three grass courts are laid plus one for juniors. Club has 105 members.

Dec 1939  -  At a Special AGM the club votes to keep going, despite the war.

1944-47  -  The club is dormant during this period.

Apr 1957  -  A new pavilion is officially opened with funds raised from many social functions, including this dinner dance in 1952 (pic 2).

1974  -  The club celebrates its 50th Anniversary and enters two teams in the North Somerset League.

1984/85  -  Ladies A team win the league 2 years running, ladies B division 4 winners 1984 (pic 3 - from left to right: Back - Jenny Kirkup (A), Barbara Clark (B), Joan May (A), Liz Joy (A), Tonia Robinson (B), Barbara Herring (B). Front - Jennie Colton (B capt), Sue Weissen (A capt)).

1989/90  -  The club has four new hard courts built at Sharpham Road and in March 1990 they are officially opened by TV pundit Jimmy Hill, seen here with wife Bryony, Phil Deane (chairman) & Jack Trew (president) (pic 4).

                        Floodlights are installed on courts 1 and 2.  Tennis is played at both venues.

1991  -  The club now has 5 men’s and 3 ladies teams in the North Somerset League.

1993  -  Floodlights are installed on courts 3 and 4 and the Ladies A team wins the North Somerset League.

Sept 1998  -  ‘The Final Set’ is played at the Barrows Road Courts after 74 years at the venue and the club transfers to Sharpam Road permanently (pic 5 pavilion & courts at Barrows Road). Phil Deane (president), David Green (chairman) & Jack Trew (ex-president) lower the net (pic 6).

2000  -  Ladies A team wins the North Somerset League (pic 7 - from left to right: Nicky Attwood, Linda Hall, Sophie Smith & Juliet Knight).

2001  -  Foot & Mouth disease stops all sport. Tennis returns with restrictions (pic 8 - disinfectant entry ‘footbath’ in front of the old portakabin).

2003  -  New clubhouse officially opens.

2008  -  Ladies A Team wins the North Somerset League for the fifth time.

2014  -  90th Anniversary celebrated with weekend tournament and barbecue. Floodlights upgraded. (pic 9 - Sohail Syed and Rachel Rossiter).

2015  -  Ladies A Team wins the North Somerset league in 2014 and 2015 (pic 10 - from left to right: Debbie Sandiford, Paula Virgo, Vanessa Brill, Juliet Knight, Claire Blythe & Amy Rossiter (not in picture)).

2018/19  -  Courts resurfaced with Matchplay 2 Carpet.

2020/21  -  Play severely limited due to Covid restrictions.

2021  -  Current Chairman Sarah Strawbridge wins National LTA Volunteer of the Year award for her inclusivity policies (pic 11).

2022  -  Ladies A team wins the North Somerset League again.

2024  -  Cheddar Lawn Tennis Club Celebrates its centenary with a dinner at Wedmore Golf Club (pic 12).

1. 1924 invitation to form the club.

2. 1952 dinner dance fundraiser for pavillion.3. 1984/85 Ladies A and B teams. From left to right: Back - Jenny Kirkup (A), Barbara Clark (B), Joan May (A), Liz Joy (A), Tonia Robinson (B), Barbara Herring (B). Front - Jennie Colton (B capt), Sue Weissen (A capt).

4. March 1990 - Sharpham Road courts officially opened by TV pundit Jimmy Hill, wife Bryony, Phil Deane (chairman) & Jack Trew (president).

5. Barrows Road courts and pavillion.

6. 'The Final Set' played at Barrows Road courts. Phil Deane (president), David Green (chairman) & Jack Trew (ex-president).

7. Ladies A team wins the North Somerset League in 2000. From left to right: Nicky Attwood, Linda Hall, Sophie Smith & Juliet Knight.

8. Foot and mouth 'footbath' by the old portakabin at Sharpham Road.

9. Sohail Syed and Rachel Rossiter take part in the 90th anniversary weekend.

10. Ladies A Team wins the North Somerset league in 2014 and 2015. From left to right: Debbie Sandiford, Paula Virgo, Vanessa Brill, Juliet Knight & Claire Blythe. Amy Rossiter not pictured.

11. 2021 - Current Chairman Sarah Strawbridge wins National LTA Volunteer of the Year award.

12. 100th anniversary dinner held at Wedmore Golf Club.