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We all gaze up at
the Roll of Honour and wonder what club life would have been like
in 1929 and during the War. Cattle grids to keep out the Forest Ponies?
I have lived in New Milton for most of my life and the nearest grid
has always been at the end of Bashley Road by the Rising Sun pub.
Forest ponies walking through New Milton is hard to believe . . .
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Jackie
Coup, Member/Webmaster
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The
following was written by Honorary Member George Lane in the 1970's:- |
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"I joined the club in summer 1937,
a few months after the changeover from the Old Grove Club. We had
three grass courts - Nos. 3, 4 and 5 and No. 6 was an isolated hard
court; it was the original surface until recently restored.
The clubhouse was a wooden chalet building with a glassed-in verandah
and on Saturday afternoons we took down teas and thermos flasks. It
was a simple country tennis club, and rather a snobbish one at that.
Our great rivals were the New Milton Club that used the hard courts
by the rec. and they used to wallop us - they had a County player
in Bobby Platt - now Dyer - and also two good players, daughter of
Mrs. Armstrong and Barbara Partridge.
By mid-June the grass courts were worn out - the baselines were bare
earth with a wandering white line.
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Then came the War, and Dorothy Wheat's
father kept the club going and I am glad I paid my subs all through
that difficult time, when abroad.
In 1947 the club was owned by a number
of different people and Mr Bottomley went round and surprised them
all saying they would be paid cash for their holdings in the club.
We all subscribed £50 interest-free loans and Miss Gilbert-Wood gave
£100 and so was elected president. Jimmy James buttoned the whole
thing up and, wonderfully, the Club owned the ground.Then Alf Gallop
and Hans Feldt worked very hard to put down the second hard court
(No. 2) and what was the car park was turned into hard court No. 1
in the late 50's by members. The grass courts were turned into
shale much later on.
Before the cattle grids were inserted in the roads, the last players
had strict instructions to close those iron gates - one, even in those
days, was difficult. Sad to say, now and then, the gates were left
open - Forest ponies are not tennis players, and a walk across the
courts by two or three did wonders to the surface!"
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22.10.1923:
A Milton Grove poultry farmer and builder, Arthur Winch, purchased
22 acres of land from Ashley Arnewood Estates (from Mr and Mrs Sidney
Francis) for the sum of £250.
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28.12.1928:
H. Ede, H. White, M. Craig and F. Bagley purchased 2 parcels
of land from A. Winch for £250; a small sum was payable for Forest
Rights, Common Turbury, Pasture etc. - 2 yearly payments of 5 shillings
and 11 pence (we may still have the right to turn cattle out onto
the Forest!).
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28.12.1928:
Declaration of Trust by the above named, who formed The
Grove Lawn Tennis Club
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29.12.1928:
Lease from the above named to Commander H.Hodson, A. Trestrail,
DSO, and G. Wray for a term of 5 years, at a cost of £100 p.a. rising
to £120 p.a. in 4th and 5th years; lease specified that 3 grass courts
must be maintained, as must 1 hard court about to be built (No.6).
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The
30's:
In 1933, Cdr. Hodson
bought from A Winch the parcel of land on the left of the Club's entrance
(on which a bungalow now stands) for £130; later that year Cdr. Hodson
sold a part of his plot to the Club's owners for £5 - this is where
the present clubhouse is sited.
Cdr. Hodson had the original clubhouse built - it was a small wooden
chalet-type building with an open verandah.
Our President, Phyllis Ridley, was one of the Club's founder members
who joined in 1931, although she left in 1935 before re-joining in 1955.
Retired dentist, George Lane, has been a member since 1937, his wife
Marjorie joining in 1942. By 1937, the club had been re-named Hale Gardens
Lawn Tennis Club.
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1939-45
During World War II the Club was kept going, virtually single-handed,
by Alfred Wheat who did just about everything including Secretary, Treasurer
and Groundsman.
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Post-War
40's
The Wheat family continued to look after the Club's interests, with
daughter Dorothy Wheat serving as Hon. Secretary for a number of years.
Mr Arley Scutt and Group Captain Wingfield were also active Club luminaries
at about this time.
The period of austerity following the war was reflected in the Club.
Nets were turned regularly "from sides to middle" for economy;
all-white tennis clothing was mandatory, with one person apparently
reduced to making up a tennis dress from a bedsheet!
During this period, the Club experienced severe financial difficulties
and a rescue operation was mounted. A Mr. Bottomley declared that it
was time that "the Club belonged to the Club". With Mr. Scutt's
help, he traced all the original freeholders (Mr Bagley had died in
1941) and repaid them in full by means of interest-free loans from current
members, plus a gift of £100 from Miss Gilbert-Wood (later the Club's
President for many years).
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25.3.1947
Conveyance made from original syndicate to H. Bottomley, J Hemens, T
James, C Scutt and Miss Gilbert-Wood. Purchase price £360.
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25.3.1947
Declaration of Trust made by above for Hale Gardens LTC.
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The
50's
In the early 50's, the present No. 1 court was laid to shale by members,
but not very well! Bad bounces were the norm right up to the time it
was converted to an all-weather surface years later.
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The
60's
This appeared to be decade of consolidation,
with no significant changes. The Club was now well-established. Under
the secretaryship of Gill Lane and the Committee, club rules such as
"all-white dress" and playing-in standards were firmly adhered
to.
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The
70's
The early 70's heralded another
period of intense activity. With a growing membership, grass courts
had become an expensive luxury and it was decided to change them to
shale in 1973.
Under Gordon Pomeroy's energetic chairmanship the old clubhouse was
demolished and a larger, brick-built one erected in its place; it was
opened in July 1974.
In 1978, courts 3, 4 and 5 were converted from shale to all-weather
surface.
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The
80's
In 1981, David Davies instigated the first LTA Open Junior Tournament
which put Hale Gardens on the tennis map, and it is now a major fixture
each year.
Another major improvement programme commenced in 1987, with the complete
resurfacing and painting of Courts 3, 4 and 5, whilst the three remaining
courts were colour-coated to match the following year.
Finally, floodlights were installed on Courts 3, 4 and 5 during 1989.
The club flourished with a healthy Junior Section, friendly club play
and competitive tennis played in 5 leagues.
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The
90's
Floodlighting of Courts 1 and
2 followed.
In 1990 the Star Club was formed. For a modest subscription, group coaching
was offered on a pay and play basis. Initially coached by John Lean,
a group of dedicated players could be seen on Sunday evenings come rain
or shine. The last session before Christmas saw them in fancy-dress.
Juniors had their chance Saturday mornings and after depositing children
at school, the ladies turn came on Wednesday mornings. Many new playing
members were coached up to a good playing standard through this L.T.A.
scheme.
In 1996 the club celebrated the
New Milton Centenary (1896-1996) with a weekend of events taking place.
T-shirts were printed for the occasion.
The tarmacadam surface on courts 1,2,3,4 and 5 was a problem by the
mid-1990s and constant sweeping and cleaning was necessary. They were
often slippery. Following a ballot of members it was decided to lay
artificial grass. After visiting courts laid at Chewton Glen Hotel,
an order was placed with the same company. Courts 3, 4 and 5 were laid
first and this improvement met with universal approval. Courts 1 and
2 followed. Older members found less strain on their joints and slippery
courts were a thing of the past.
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2000 +
The Star club continued to fluorish
under the organisation of Margaret Leask.
Hale Gardens on the internet - the club's first website www.halegardensltc.org.uk
was designed by Jackie Coup in 2001.
Discussions took place with NFDC concerning possible relocation of the
club to an area of land being set aside for recreation purposes off
Fernhill Lane. Under the chairmanship of John Cliff an extraordinary
meeting was held on 6 November 2002. The E.G.M. resolution was:
"That, having the Club's best interests always paramount in
its considerations, the Club Committee be allowed to pursue, to completion,
the relocation of Hale Gardens Lawn Tennis Club from its existing premises
at Hale Gardens, New Milton, to an alternative and larger site, within
close proximity to the existing grounds".
The resolution was carried but many members felt very strongly that
the club should remain in its own freehold premises where it was in
total control of its activities.
Central heating was installed
in the winter of 2003 and members no longer had to struggle with the
calor gas heaters!
Early in 2005 permission was finally granted for the floodlighting of
Court 6. The previous application had been refused - mainly because
of objections from neighbours. A great deal of work was carried out
by Club Coach, Craig McEwan to achieve this permission at the Planning
Appeal.
The
25th Anniversary Open Junior Tournament was held Friday 25 March - Wednesday
30 March, 2005.
During the spring/summer of 2006, floodlighting was installed to Court
6 and the court was re-surfaced.
Page last edited:
31 December, 2006
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