Read the full history of HWLTC, researched and written by Sue Chapman here : History of HWLTC

 

Our Predecessor Clubs

· 1879 : Club with the name "High Wycombe Lawn Tennis Club" is formed, playing at a ground near New Mill, London Road.

· 1890 : Club has grown to 23 members, is playing on the Wycombe Cricket Field and playing matches against other local clubs.

· 1898 : The old High Wycombe Lawn Tennis Club is declared defunct, citing "the counter-attractions of the bicycle" for the loss of members.

· 1903 : A club called "Wycombe Tennis Club" is innaugurated, playing at Loakes Park, on courts adjacent to the old football pitch, and continuing until at least 1946. The club's first captain is Mr Percy Faulkner of Kingston-on-Thames.

· 1923 : Buckinghamshire LTA is founded.

· 1933 : The current Bassetsbury Lane site is acquired by Frank Adams. Maps show this was previously the site of a corn mill by the river and a watercress bed.

· 1935 : Tennis is being played on our current site, being used by three separate clubs, each with their own courts.

 

High Wycombe Lawn Tennis Club

· 1947 : A group of tennis enthusiasts purchase the current Bassetsbury Lane site, and the current HWLTC is founded, playing on newly reconditioned courts.

· 1947 : The club's first Chairman was Frank Adams (after whom Adams Park is named). M B. Parry-Jones (of Reynolds, Parry-Jones & Crawford Solicitors) was the first President. Vice Presidents Lucian Ercolani.

· 1947 : Faye Wyles (married name Joffey) is Bucks junior champion. Also champion in 1948, 1949 and 1950.

· 1947 : The club hosts the first of its hugely popular open American Tournaments.

· 1948 : HWLTC start competing in the Bucks Shield.

· 1949 : Doug Timms is Bucks junior champion.

· 1951 : Margaret Ives (married name Stevens) is Bucks junior champion.

· 1953 : Diane Tucky (married name Bennett) is Bucks junior champion. Diane played several times at Wimbledon in the early 1960s (match record here).

· 1955 : The club introduces the Coronation Cup, which is played for annually for many years.

· 1955 : HWLTC men win the the Bucks County Shield for the first time. Also champions in 1956, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1979 and 1996.

· 1957 : Diane Tuckey is Bucks junior champion. Also champion in 1958 and 1960.

· 1960 : Old wooden pavilion constructed.

· 1968 : Janet Blythen is Bucks junior champion.

· 1969 : HWLTC purchases the current Bassetsbury Lane site for £6,000.

· 1971 : Howard Pountney becomes President of HWLTC.

· 1977 : HWLTC men's team reach the quarter finals of the National Clubs Knock-Out event.

· 1997 : The LTA presents Howard Pountney with a lifetime achievement award for services to tennis.

· 1998 : Our new brick-built clubhouse is constructed.

· 2006 : First artificial grass courts installed.

· 2007 : First floodlights installed.

· 2012 : First artificial clay courts installed.

· 2014 : Howard Pountney dies, just short of his 101st birthday.

· 2022 : Club celebrates its 75th anniversary.

· 2022 : The history of tennis in High Wycombe is covered in detail in the Bucks Free Press (Before WW2).

 

Timeline in Pictures

Tennis at Loakes Park in 1903 (image courtesy of Sharing Wycombe's Old Photographs, https://swop.org.uk/).

Courts and early clubhouse in 1930.

Aerial view from above Bassetsbury Lane looking east to Wycombe Marsh and Loudwater in 1935, showing the original courts on the current site (image courtesy of Sharing Wycombe's Old Photographs, https://swop.org.uk/).

Cutting from the Bucks Free Press, reporting on our first American Tournament in 1947 (image courtesy of the Bucks Free Press).

Cutting from the Bucks Free Press, reporting on the county junior championships in 1950 (image courtesy of the Bucks Free Press).

Faye Wyles at HWLTC in 1953 (image courtesy of Sharing Wycombe's Old Photographs, https://swop.org.uk/).

HWLTC members in 1953 (image courtesy of Sharing Wycombe's Old Photographs, https://swop.org.uk/).

HWLTC members in 1954.

Our 1955 Bucks Shield winning team (image courtesy of Sharing Wycombe's Old Photographs, https://swop.org.uk/).

Our 1956 Bucks Shield winning team.

HWLTC members in and the newly built wooden pavilion in 1960  (image courtesy of Sharing Wycombe's Old Photographs, https://swop.org.uk/).

HWLTC members in 1960.

The old, wooden pavilion.