I would like to relate a little story of how, by a trick of fate, I was able to realise a life's ambition and become the founder member of the Swansea Lawn Tennis and Squash Rackets Club. This was brought about because our existing club, the Rosehill Tennis Club, was sold leaving us with no tennis courts on which to play and for one season we were forced to use the municipal courts at Victoria Park, Swansea, where there were no facilities for changing, showers or entertaining our guests at matches.

It quickly became plain that we could not carry on under such circumstances. It was with some trepidation that I wrote to the Swansea Council to ask whether they had a plot of land available which would be suitable for a tennis club. The reply was that there was nothing immediately but it was possible that something might arise in the near future. A special meeting was being held at the Y.M.C.A. and I presented the Council's letter to the members. It was greeted with shouts of laughter and everybody thought it was a great joke, with the exception of one member, Mr Eric Ashmole. He said that it was the only ray of light to emerge from the meeting. Together we pursued the possibility with the Council but were told that we should have to wait until the appropriate committee sat.

Eventually, I received a letter together with a rough plan of the proposed site. I immediately telephoned Mr Ashmole and asked if he would like to accompany me to inspect what had been offered. He agreed immediately and that same morning we went along to see whether there were any possibilities for the construction of a club and courts.

We went up the approach road at the King George V Playing Fields and what we saw was a complete shambles. This had been an old Ack-Ack site and it was covered with large slabs of concrete. Despite the off-putting first appearance, we could see the possibilities for a clubhouse and a good layout for the courts. We reported our findings to the tennis members and started making plans for using the site to the best advantage.

At about the time news of what we were planning reached the ears of the local squash community who, up to that time, had the use of the one squash court at the Bristol Channel Yacht Club. They asked if they could join us to make a combined tennis end squash club and it was agreed.

A most efficient committee was formed; head by the President, Judge Rowe Harding, and with Mr Eric Ashmole as Chairman. Other members included the Lidstone brothers, Stan Riley, David Andrews, John Beeston, Alun Lewis, Terry Little and myself and a few other for the purpose of formulating the club rules and the financing of the project.

Although the latter was a very large hurdle to overcome, it was finally resolved by a grant and a loan. Together with the members' subscription we were then in a position to go ahead with the project.

In 1964, we were able to start playing our remaining matches on the new courts but the clubhouse had not been completed. For that first season we were allowed to use the changing rooms, showers and cafe on the municipal playing fields which were situated in front of the tennis club. On completing the club building it comprised of the main clubroom, changing rooms and toilets and two squash courts.

With the interest in squash emerging at that time, it soon became apparent that two courts were not enough and also we had no permanent living quarters for the steward and stewardess. Since that time, we have extended the clubhouse and built a maisonette for the steward and his wife and added two extra squash courts, one with glass backed wall with spectator seating which has proved to be a great success.

We have now become the premier club for tennis and squash in this area. Being a members club, we have a hard core of members who look after the running of the club from month to month. Our results in both tennis and squash have been excellent.

The Welsh Hard Court Tournament is held annually at our club and it is the venue for a number of important squash matches. We also encourage any promising youngsters in both games and at present have two young tennis players, Sharon Rees and Jonathan Sheppard, and Sarah Fury in the squash field. Sarah, although still a junior, plays in the Welsh Senior Squad.

The Swansea Lawn Tennis and Squash Rackets Club is situated at the rear of the King George V Playing Fields. On a summer evening it is the most pleasant spot one could wish for. From the clubhouse veranda one can see right across Swansea Bay and also the playing fields where the cricketers obviously enjoy themselves, as we sit back to the sound of leather against willow and shouts of "Howzat"

I must mention the Swansea Council who has supported us all the way in our early endeavours and in return we have put Swansea on the map in tennis and squash.

Brian Lloyd
Founder Member -Tennis Section
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