Photograph of George Frederick Smith and Florence Smith (nee Wood) taken soon after their marriage. On her death in 1947, Florence bequeathed the land to the residents of Wells Town to enjoy the game of tennis and form a tennis club.

Prior to the town tennis club being formed in 1962, tennis was a popular sport among the landed gentry and the Smith family had their own beautiful grass tennis court in the grounds behind their residence at the Mayshiel. Many of the town fetes and functions were held there.

There was also a tennis court in the town in the grounds of The Normans.

Below is a photo of tennis being played at their court behind the Mayshiel circa 1920s

The Tennis Club

The land currently used as the tennis club was handed over to the town by Florence's youngest daughter, Mrs Victoria Rachael Chamberlain sometime after Florence's death in 1947. A grand opening was organised and an exhitition match was played involving Jean Bostock (nee Nicoll) below, who was considered the most promising junior player in Great Britain before World War II. Jean was partnered by her husband Edward 'Teddy' Bostock and their opponents on the day were our own Mary Bircham and her brother Andrew Seeley. Jean enjoyed considerable success as a player and indeed played at Wimbledon where she reached the quarter finals of the ladies singles from 1946 to 1948.

Jean Bostock

Mary Bircham

The club as we know it today was officially formed by Mrs Mary Bircham (nee Seeley) in 1962. Mary had a passion for the club and the game of tennis and was involved throughout her life until her passing in 2010. Countless children growing up in Wells from the 1960s until the 2000s and who took up the game of tennis, did so because of Mary's knowledge, enthusiasm and love for the game. The club's annual mixed doubles tournament and trophy is named in her honour.