by Aimee Richards | Nov 13, 2018 | News - General, Social News, Squash News, Tennis News
A memorable and nostalgic night was had by all as Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club marked the 80thanniversary of the return to the current site with a celebratory dinner on Saturday night.
The club were delighted to welcome three special guests to the club to mark the anniversary celebration, five-times Grand Slam doubles champion Frew McMillan, another former top player in Ted Beards, and former UK squash number one Anna Bullock (nee Craven Smith).
Club President Ron Stevenson was Master of Ceremonies for the night, Rod Willetts delivered a presentation about his ongoing work to compile a history of the club (Click here for more details), and Frew himself spoke about his illustrious career to the 80 assembled guests.
“Frew delivered some tremendous stories about his tennis partners and rivals, and revealed a connection to Wolverhampton which was most surprising,” said Rod.
“He was actually awarded a Doctrine of the City (by the University of Wolverhampton) ten years ago.
“He also did a Question & Answer session for guests which was extremely interesting, including the question of why he was one of the first two-handed players.
“’Because I used my mother’s full-size racket which was a bit heavy for a five-year-old’ was the response.
“Overall the evening was a great success.”
Frew, who won the top tournament at WLTSC in 1962. 1963 and 1970, was delighted to catch up again with former friendly foe Ted, who also made it to Wimbledon in his playing days.
Frew, who attended the evening with wife Sally, has since contacted Ron to pass on his appreciation.
“We greatly enjoyed ourselves,” he said.
“It was a treat for me to revisit the scene of my playing days and I could not quite comprehend the huge expansion of the Club. Most impressive!
“We wish you and your Club the very best of good fortune in your attempts to further enrich Newbridge.”
At the end of the night Frew and Sally were presented with gifts to mark the occasion by WLTSC chairman John Hollingsworth.
*Photos from the evening, taken by an Express & Star photographer, will appear in a future edition of the Wolverhampton Magazine.
by Aimee Richards | Nov 8, 2018 | Community Events, News - General, Social News, Squash News, Tennis News
A popular sports club in Wolverhampton is welcoming Grand Slam tennis champion Frew McMillan to help mark a special 80th anniversary taking place this weekend.
The Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club is holding an anniversary dinner, with special guests including the five-times doubles Grand Slam champion, who played – and won – several tournaments at the club during its history.
The club is marking 80 years on its present site, having started out in 1885 on the premises, moved to Albert Road in 1913, before purchasing the ‘Neville Lodge’ building and returning in 1938.
Saturday night’s event is part of an overall celebration of the 80th anniversary, including long-serving club member Rod Willetts producing a history of WLTSC from its inception to the present day.
“There is a gang of us who play racketball on a Monday and Friday night and have a pint in the bar afterwards,” says Rod, who has been a member at WLTSC for 42 years.
“One of the guys Roger Malpas, who has since been helping me with the project, was asking if anyone had ever done a history of the club and that sparked my interest.
“We found some boxes of minutes, including one which had been brought in by the family of the former secretary Mike Tomlinson, and the information blew my mind.
“There were minutes books all the way from the year 1905 to the present day – all in beautifully kept books and beautifully written in italics.
“Roger and myself have been going through those books and I have also been up to Wolverhampton Archives, where I have found some fantastic photographs.
“It is very time consuming but has been great fun and amazing to see how the club has progressed through the years.
“The idea now is to turn the work and the research into some form of publication to mark this anniversary and the club’s history to date.”
Rod has discovered there were three main reasons why the club moved back to Newbridge Crescent from the 12-court site on Albert Road eight decades ago.
The lack of parking at their previous home, the need for a venue for more ‘winter’ sports, and a more substantial property, with Neville Lodge being purchased for £2,000.
And so it was that the new and current home not only housed tennis courts at the start, but also two squash courts and separate rooms for billiards, table tennis and cards.
WLTSC also hosted a top class tennis tournament over the years which included ranking points towards events such as Wimbledon, and attracted competitors from as far afield as South Africa and Australia.
It was that event which McMillan won on three separate occasions, in 1962, 1963 and 1970, and why he is delighted to be returning this weekend, along with other guests including former British number one squash player Anna Bullock (nee Craven Smith) and another top tennis player in Ted Beards.
“We are delighted that Frew and all of our guests will be joining us and are looking forward to a nostalgic night,” added Rod.
by Aimee Richards | Sep 27, 2018 | News - General, Social News, Squash News
This week is Women’s Squash Week across the country, and therefore no better time to shine a light on some of the ladies who enjoy playing the game, and to a high standard, at WLTSC.
And in particular two who boast a combined 84 years of taking to the court, and who last weekend took part in the West of England Masters on home soil.
Cathy Grinsell and Jane Hatton are well versed in league squash having both turned out for WLTSC in the Shropshire League, and many other leagues in the past as well.
Entering the Masters was perhaps motivated partly by the event taking place so close to home, but both enjoyed the experience, with Cathy finishing the round robin tournament as runner up.
A great achievement for a player who first set out playing the sport over four decades ago!
“I first played at the age of maybe 22 or 23, when I was working at Goodyear, and they built a sports centre with a squash court,” Cathy recalls.
“Quite a lot of us started playing and I ended up captaining the ladies’ team.
“It all progressed from there and I have played in many different leagues, joining here at Wolverhampton about 18 years ago.
“I remember the day I joined – I became a member at 5pm and was playing my first match for the club at 7pm!
“I’m 62 now, and am still playing a lot of squash, three or four times a week, and still taking on a lot of the young men…and beating them!
“We are fortunate here to have quite a strong female contingent of squash players, but it would be good to get some more youngsters coming through.
“Both my daughters play – they have been brought up on it! – and for me it is the best game in the world!”
Jane is also hugely experienced in the world of squash, having been playing the game for almost four-and-a-half decades!
“I always wanted to play squash, and when I went to Newcastle University, I had the opportunity to do so,” she says.
“I have been playing at WLTSC now for about 24 years I think, and still play a bit of team tennis in the Shropshire League.
“I probably only entered the Masters event as it was here at the club, and the others were probably a bit better than us, but it was still good fun!”
As Cathy mentioned, there is also a strong group of younger squash players enjoying the sport at WLTSC, many of whom – such as Aimee Jones – were showing their support for their club colleagues, also including Elaine Radcliffe and Kate Fuller, at the Masters.
“I am 27 now, and was 13 when I first started playing squash,” says Amy.
“My brothers played, so I picked up a racket and had a go, and ended up playing as a junior here.
“There is a good atmosphere at the club with the other female players and I really enjoy playing in the teams.”
All three ladies are very much united in terms of the overall benefits of squash as a sport, whether played for fun, or competitively.
“For me personally I can’t believe more women don’t get into it,” added Cathy.
“Particularly for the calorie burn…you can burn 600 to 650 calories in a 45-minute game which is better than most training sessions!
“It was great to be involved in the Masters tournament because it promoted our club and will hopefully help expand our membership base to get more squash players coming through the ranks.”
“Aggression within rules” – that is Jane’s description!
“And you can play indoors, 45 minutes of intense exercise, and you only have to organise two people to play!”
For Aimee, squash has also helped her in many other ways apart from just the game itself!
“It is a sport which keeps you fit and active, and is also socially good with meeting new people,” she says.
“I used to work at the bar here, then got a job with one of the guys I played squash with, and I also met my husband here as well!”
*A female interested in playing squash? Why not give it a go and pop along to one of the regular sessions. Click here to view more details.
by Aimee Richards | Apr 18, 2018 | News - General, Squash News
A report from the British Journal of Medical Science outlined that racquet sports, swimming and aerobics are the three forms of physical activity best suited to avoiding heart disease and strokes.
And the world-renowned Forbes Magazine once cited the sport of squash as the healthiest of them all, edging out rowing and rock climbing, following extensive research.
Reports and research can often say many different things, but for a real-life example of the benefits of regular activity via the medium of squash, step forward the one and only Keith Allcock!
Keith, from Tettenhall, continues to both perspire and inspire as part of the regular Wednesday squash mix-in at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club.
Fit as a fiddle, he comes off court still showing plenty of energy and all the benefits associated with an hour-and-a-half of vigorous exercise.
And yet, Keith is 82 years old!
“I come to the squash mix-in every week and play a bit at other times as well – it is brilliant!” he explains.
“I have great fun with the other guys.
“I have been playing squash since I was 46 when a friend of mine asked me for a game of squash and we went along to Stafford Leisure Centre.
“I loved it from the start, being able to thrash the ball around like you can on a squash court!
“As soon as I get on court I feel like I come alive.
“I have always been really into sport and keeping fit and playing squash is a great way of doing that.”
Keith’s competitive streak stems from an early career as a weightlifter, and has continued with his squash.
He has previously made good progress through the draw in veterans events in the World Over-75s Championships and British Open, including finishing runner-up in the latter in 2011.
It is Matt McFahn, Head of Squash and Racketball at WLTSC, who leads the mix-ins at which Keith and many other players do battle, both on and off court!
“The mix-in sessions are competitive but also great socially as well, with plenty of banter,” says Matt.
“We have players of many different ages and it is a session that they all look forward to.
“As well as that research about squash being such a healthy sport, it is also worth remembering that it is also all about thinking as well.
“You move fast, move slow, sometimes long rallies and sometimes short, but you are always using your brain.
“In terms of Keith, you wouldn’t believe that he is 82.
“With him having previously been a weightlifter, he has always been really competitive.
“The amazing thing about Keith is that if we do a practice, he is the one person we can never get to stop or drop out!
“He will sit out just to share everything around if needs be but apart from that we can’t get him off because he is so keen to keep playing and hitting the ball.
“He loves it!”
