From: The Racketeer 11, February 1995
The Story of Mapperley Park Tennis Club
Part 6 - The Swinging Sixties
by Chris Weir
Chris Weir lets down his hair, dons his kaftan and beads, to float into a drug-crazed, psychedelic, happening scene where love-15 does not mean what you might expect - but then comes down to earth in Mapperley Park.
THE 1960 FIXTURE CARD recorded that the club's committee members were: Miss M. Domleo, Miss Y. Pullman and Mr. P. Widdowson. The Hon. Secretary was Mr. R D. Pullman; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. P. C. Cullen; Hon. Membership Secretary, Mr. F. T. Bradley, Ladies' Match Secretary, Miss J. Ledger, Men's Match Secretary, Mr. R F. Bland. The President was Mr. G. H Wilford, and the Vice Presidents were: Mr. And Mrs. G. T. Littlefair, Mr. J. L. N Cutts, Mr. S. Adams, Dr. J. M. Macfie, Mr. R F. J. Ricks, Mrs. N. C. Watson, Mr. M. W. Corder, Mr. J. Britton, Mrs. D. Price, Mr. And Mrs. C. F. Butler, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Cullen, and Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Leatherland.
By March 1961 the Men's first team had gained promotion to Division 6, though the Ladies' team had gone down to Division S. To tempt more members to the Annual General Meeting it was decided to serve tea and biscuits - whether this temptation proved successful is not recorded. The March 1961 minutes also recorded that the committee had been asked to incorporate into the 1961 programme a mixed doubles knock-out tournament, a men's doubles knock-out tournament, an Open Day tournament on the 7th May, and some kind of junior tournament. It was clearly going to be a busy year.
In cautious terms the March 1962 minutes recorded that 'the Men's knock-out team was successful in getting through one round of the Tournament'. No other results were recorded. No doubt a welcome introduction to the club's routine was the provision of tea, sugar and milk at weekends, and the installation of a machine for the sale of chocolate and nuts.
By 1963 the Ladies' team had dropped to Division 6, but the Men's team had held its place in Division 6. In 1964 the club membership stood at a healthy total of 155 with 68 full members, 63 junior members, 7 walking members, 16 Vice Presidents and the President. It appears that the club's programme of social 'activities had been particularly successful.
They had all been well attended and came to a climax with the `Christmas Party.' In addition a car rally was proposed for the summer of 1964, though in subsequent minutes it was noted that this had taken place 'on the wettest day of the year.' The club's entertainment committee were, nevertheless, inspired and coffee evenings, President's Day and ladies' night were all 'highly successful'. Indeed in the February 1965 minutes, the Secretary personally thanked the Entertainments Committee for all the hard work put into organising the various activities. He was certain that these activities gave the dub 'a mind and soul apart from that contained in the four courts.' Certainly the membership, which had risen to 181, seemed to reflect the club's outgoing character: It was also reflected in the tireless work of its Secretary, Mr. R D. Pullman, who was, in the 1966 minutes, accorded a special vote of thanks for the work he had done in that position, which he had held since 1949.
A glimpse of the wider world of tennis came in 1968 when Mr. J. Britton, one of the Club's Vice Presidents, was appointed as Chairman of the League Committee of the Nottinghamshire Lawn Tennis Association, in place of a Mr. Parr who had served in that position for 20 years.
While the club's social activities had all the razzmatazz of the swinging sixties and had proved instrumental in maintaining club membership, some members found they had little opportunity to join in the club's tennis activities if they were not in one of the teams. This issue was raised in the March 1969 minutes where it was recorded that 'the committee has given a good deal of thought and discussion to the question of activities and felt that there were a number of members who did not play very often, but came down occasionally, and finding no-one at the club were disappointed. The committee wondered whether the club would like to have club nights, and if so which night would be best. After discussion it was agreed to try Wednesday as Club Night'.
So it was in 1969 that a legend was born! Club Night. Surely one of MPTC's greatest institutions! A night when stars may rise in the firmament of club tennis, when fashion, style and determination meet in an unrivalled sporting spectacle, when clubhouse chatter continues long into the summer night - that is if anyone turns up!