A TENNIS club celebrated its 90th anniversary by opening two new courts.

Boughton Park Lawn Tennis Club, in Bransford Road, St. Johns, celebrated a milestone by opening two new synthetic grass courts.

Stephen Howarth, chairman of Boughton Park, said: “We are here playing tennis on three superb grass courts and four all-weather courts today because 90 years ago our forefathers invested their time and money in setting up this tennis club.

“It is important that we continue their good work and invest for our children and grandchildren so they can enjoy playing our courts in another 90 years.”

The club officially launched the new courts on June 6 and an open day took place on June 9. The launch has attracted 22 members who have expressed an interest in joining the club.

The opening ceremony was performed by Neil Bates, chairman of The Hereford and Worcester Lawn Tennis Association.

Mr Bates said: “Boughton Park is a long established tennis club and I have many fond memories of playing on the wonderful grass courts here over the years.

“It has been a real pleasure to watch the recent increase in the number of people playing tennis in the St Johns area and this investment in two new synthetic grass courts will no doubt help to boost those numbers.”

Boughton Park Lawn Tennis Club, part of the Worcester Golf and Club, now has three grass courts and four all-weather courts – two of which are synthetic grass.

In 1929, the Worcester Golf and Club expanded to include a tennis section in the grounds of the old house, previously owned by the Issac family who lived there through consecutive generations from 1814 to 1926.

Initially there was no intention to include tennis courts, but women started to play on the grass alongside the house and therefore four courts were created within the walled garden. Two of the courts were converted to all weather courts after World War Two and a new pavilion was officially opened in 1970 by Dorothy Round, a previous Wimbledon champion.

The family sold Boughton Park to Worcester Golf and Club in 1926 to create an 18-hole golf course.

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