SLTC celebrating 50 years: Recollections from the club's first treasurer

In celebration and recognition of the club's 50th anniversary, we are pleased to share with you a brief biography and recollections by Bruce Palmer (16.04.33-14.04.24) who was the first Swanmore Treasurer. 

Bruce was born in Loughton Essex. Whilst at school, he enjoyed many sports, both playing and watching, and this continued throughout his life. 

Bruce and his family moved to Swanmore in February 1973, where he continued to play badminton and tennis and was involved in setting up the Swanmore tennis club with a small committee and the involvement of the then vicar of Swanmore, Ron Patterson.  More of this later.  
Bruce encouraged both his children, Clive and Sarah, to enjoy sport with him. Clive shared his love of tennis, and in 1980 they were fortunate enough to see the epic final at Wimbledon between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. For those old enough to remember, Borg prevailed in the final set 8-6 after 3 hours 53 minutes of tennis. 

Following his retirement, aged 65 years and 8 months, he joined Fareham Leisure centre over 50’s club where he continued to play both badminton and short tennis, until he was 87 years old. Bruce died recently and peacefully on his birthday, aged 91.  

Here are some memories from Bruce on the setting up of Swanmore Tennis Club. These memories were given to Bruce’s daughter Sarah, just before he died on 16th April 24.

“When we moved to Orchardlea, Swanmore in the Spring of 1973 the village did not have a tennis club. Ron Paterson, who was the vicar at the time and who was very influential in the village (his daughter Liz Steel is a current member of SLTC), was fully supportive of the need for a tennis club. We arranged a couple of public meetings, and it was clear that there was a desire to have a tennis club in the village. There were no public tennis courts available but several privately owned courts which were not accessible for use as a club in the village.

"To move this forward, several of us joined the pre-existing sports and social club in the village and set about trying to find some land in the village. Ron identified some glebe land in Mayhill Lane, where the tennis courts were eventually built. Negotiations took place with a local farmer who was renting the land and he agreed to release two acres of land for the first two courts. Ron and I went to see the farmer together to have this conversation. The farmer was based at Jarvis Court in Upper Swanmore. 

"We then needed to take the next step, which involved designing the layout of the courts on the land. At this point I came into my own with my knowledge of construction and surveying, and I designed the courts and drew up the plans. I was a Quantity Surveyor working in the building industry.

"We then had a meeting with the Sports & Social club to form the tennis club, with an initial committee of three, namely Pat Terry, secretary, me as treasurer, and one other. John Bates took over as Chair after approximately 1 year. We then started to play at Bishops Waltham courts in Hoe Road. I applied and secured planning permission. There were some initial problems on planning that we were able to overcome. The layout of the first two courts was not in line with the advice received by the LTA at the time. The land available meant that we had to set the courts out in a certain direction. The LTA made their recommendations based on the sun, wind, and weather conditions, but we designed them at right angles to their advice. 

"I surveyed the land with the help of my son Clive and an ordnance survey map. We went up to the land and pegged it out. Once we had planning permission, Pat Terry sent the plans out to tender with tennis court suppliers and we identified a supplier to build the courts and placed the order. 

"We obtained a £1,000 or £2,000 grant from the LTA who also lent us some money. Plus, there was extensive fund raising, including a dance in the old village hall in New Road, jumble sales, sponsored events, cheese and wine evenings, including one at my home in Orchardlea. The final cost of the original two courts was around £6-6,500. 

"When the courts were officially opened, I was asked to play on court with John Bates, who by then was Chair of the Tennis Club. 
I won the first tournament at the Tennis Club courts in Swanmore with Shirley Downes as my doubles partner. At an early-stage Barbara Barker was brought in coach at the club. We entered a local league and some of the better players from the Bishops Waltham Club moved over and joined us. 

"We had a thriving junior section.

"I remained as club Treasurer until early 1979. The Committee presented me with a tennis book as recognition of the work completed."

Bruce Palmer – 14.4.2024