From: The Racketeer 59, October 2005
Robert Pullman (1915-2005)
by Andy Lusis
THE NAME Robert Pullman will mean little to many current club members, but those with longer memories of MPTC will know him as a long-serving club secretary who worked tirelessly for the club with a unique 'hands-on' approach.
He was born on the 29th October 1915 and probably joined the club in the late 1930s, before going off to do his bit in the War.
Robert married Sheila (née Browne), daughter of Sydney Browne, who lived at 40 Carisbrooke Drive and was the club's first elected president (1947-59). It was Robert's father-in-law who in 1954 bought the land (which was being used as a chicken run at the time) next to Esher Grove, giving the club space for a fourth court. In return for donating this land to the club he was given life memberships for his son-in-law, daughter and grandchildren John and Yolande.
In 1948 Robert was appointed club secretary, a position he held until 1972. His home, 44 Carisbrooke Drive, overlooking the courts, became the repository for the gate and clubhouse key - which hung by a cotton reel on a nail in the porch - to act as a spare when a member had left his at home. He became the chief maintenance man for the whole ground for many years, helped by Saturday morning working parties. His son John recalls being paid ten shillings by his father on some Saturdays for cutting the grass with a petrol mower. Running a club with grass courts is not an easy job; sometimes groundsmen were employed for four hours at weekends, Robert keeping them supplied with mugs of tea.
Although mostly a social player, Robert also turned out for the men's team and his name occurs once in the (incomplete) record of club tournament winners, taking the Men's Doubles title with Alan Willis in 1948.
When the Clumber LTC (on the site that became Clarendon College) closed in 1954, Robert was instrumental in attracting many of their members to MPTC, including the Crowes (George Crowe was club president, 1970-72) and the Leatherlands. He hardly ever missed an AGM or a President's Day and became, jointly with Sheila, president himself from 1977 to 1982. In recognition for his services to the club he was made an honorary vice president; he also served for a number of years as one of the club's trustees.
In later years Robert was a regular at the Monday night MPTC bridge sessions. He left his home about four years ago, to take up residence in the Firs Nursing Home in Sherwood, from where John would bring him to the club for bridge. He died peacefully on Sunday 3rd July.