From: The Racketeer 15, October 1995
The Story of Mapperley Park Tennis Club
Part 10 - Back to Basics
by Chris Weir
Chris Weir Strides Relentlessly through the Eighties.
During 1982 the club's committee members found themselves getting 'back to basics'. They set about raising money for the new clubhouse extension, they submitted grant applications for loans towards a third hard court - and they probably wondered if they'd ever find the time, or the energy, to actually play a game of tennis!
For the clubhouse toilet block and showers, more than £10,000 was needed, and for the new Porosol hard court a total of £6,418 was required. While grants would help, a major drive for funds from club events was also needed. The response was immediate, and in the year 1982-83 the sum of £755 was raised from 'special events'. One jumble sale, organised by Judy Small, made more than £100 profit. Judy's contribution was highlighted in the 1984 Captain's report, which drew attention to her 'indefatigable energy'.
The go-ahead for work to start on the new extension was given to T. Fish & Son in July 1983. The new block was completed, following some delays, in March 1984, ready for the summer season; and the new hard court was also finished for the 1984 season. The committee were at last able to breathe a sigh of relief, relax, and perhaps even play the occasional game of tennis themselves! The fruits of their labours can be judged from the fact that during 1984 no less than 94 new members joined the club, taking the total membership up to 257.
In 1984 the club's President was D. S. Corder, with vice presidents: Mrs. K. Allen, F. T. Bradley, J. Britton, G. E. Crowe, P. C. Cullen, Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Price, Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Pullman, and Mrs. F. A. Ricks. The club's officers were: Captain, F. Raistrick; Secretary, E. A. French; Treasurer, R. Barraclough; Ladies' Match Secretary, Mrs. S. G. Playford; Mixed Match Secretary, F. Raistrick; and Men's Match Secretary, P. J. Darlaston. The committee members were Kay Brindle, Shirley Darlaston, Judy Small, Trevor Woolley and Chris Taylor. In that year the subscription for full membership was £28; for juniors and students £17; and for term-time only students £12.
Yet the 1984 committee and other club officials, while no doubt pleased with their success, recognised that it was vital to press forward with even more improvements. New fencing was put up around part of the court perimeter, arrangements were made for the clubhouse to be regularly cleaned and maintained, and investigations were begun into the possibility of converting the final grass court to a hard surface.
The committee seemed tireless. It was back to meeting after meeting again, back to the long hours of discussion and back to the fund-raising. In the 1985 summer newsletter, the Secretary (Michael Smith) reported a series of events, around which the club's annual activities revolved. One of these was the dinner and prize giving on Thursday the 28th November, which was 'a new event on the social calendar'. Tickets were £9.50 and a 'first rate meal' was promised. And the location of the event? None other than the incomparable Ristorante Italiano on King's Walk in Nottingham, run by one Lidio Dellarocca.