Spring Statement (without the tariffs)
Just over forty years ago, I was walking down the Finchley Road with a close friend. We were both athletes: he was a disenchanted pole vaulter and I was an injured javelin thrower. Turning off the main road, we heard the sound of tennis balls being hit … “Now that’s something I’d like to try” he said. “Let’s take a look”
The entrance to the club was quite forbidding, but we had heard that Bjorn Borg would get his grass court practice in there, before heading off to win Wimbledon. Suffering from youthful delusions of grandeur, we thought, like Bjorn, we could turn up and play. Presumably the fan club would follow as soon as we put on our shorts.
My friend explained that we had never played before and asked how he could join and we were taken into a small room to meet the Chairman. “Oh no no no” he said, “We really don’t want your sort here - there’s a playing in test you see, this is an exclusive club”.
At the time, this ‘exclusion’ seemed funny. Two white, middle class boys being excluded from something was new to us - we had only ever competed in the most democratic of sports: our friends were the fastest, or the strongest, or the fittest - nothing else mattered.
Fast forward twenty years and Bev and I were living in West Hampstead with our two small, highly energetic, young children. A flyer came through the door, advertising an Open Day at Brondesbury, the local tennis club. New courts had been laid and kids could have an hour or so of free coaching, plus the opportunity to meet a famous player. The sun was out and everyone seemed so friendly that we risked a family membership. Like most parents, we stood for what seemed like hours on end, watching the children have fun. Then the light-bulb moment: “why aren’t we playing instead of standing around?”
Although we were new to tennis, the kindness and generosity was extraordinary. Waiting for a court was an opportunity to get to know people and then, fifteen minutes later, we would be whisked off to play a doubles, very often with the best player in the club. Having watched my friend being ‘excluded’ twenty years before, it was wonderful to be ‘included’ by so many lovely people.
Fast forward another twenty years and most of those people are firm friends. I’ve played in matches with a right-handed Jewish doctor, a left-handed Irish nutcase, a brilliant but modest genius in charge of refurbishing the Palace of Westminster … I’ve even partnered Francois, which is not an easy thing to do. I’ve witnessed the growth and development of our coaching team, now brilliantly managed by Marina. At every social event I’ve organised, these young coaches have either taken a financial hit, or lost a day off, but have happily participated and enjoyed knitting our community together.
And yet … and yet … I hear rumours of a broken Brondesbury …”it isn’t what it used to be … I don’t like waiting for a court … that lady is too loud … Edward is a … (insert option here)”.
Well, let me reassure you that at no other club would you have:
Jubilee Tea Parties
Sports Days
Talent Shows
The Lavarello Cup
Christmas Quizzes
Lectures from local experts
Improver Groups
Multiple Junior Groups
Saturday Drop in Sessions
Team Training
Junior Matches
New toilets adjacent to the courts
All weather, quick-draining playing surfaces
Seven floodlit courts
Four Womens Teams
Five Mens Teams
Several highly successful junior teams
Winter Leagues
Annual tournaments
Mix & Match afternoons
Subsidised refreshments for juniors playing in senior matches
The highest standard of individual coaching
A beautifully maintained, green landscape
… and above all INCLUSION rather than EXCLUSION.
And most of this facilitated by unpaid volunteers.
We never have been, and never will be an exclusive club. There are plenty of those around. Next time you feel aggrieved at having to wait a few minutes for a court, try chatting to some of your fellow players - you’ll be amazed at the pool of talent and interest at this club: musicians, religious leaders, magistrates, teachers, gardeners, writers, producers, lawyers, doctors, website designers, travel agents, book shop managers, photographers, accountants, bankers, students, and very entertaining children.
As the world outside tightens its belt and queues at a food bank, thank your lucky stars that you are waiting to play tennis.
Best wishes for a very happy Spring break and a successful Summer of tennis.
Matt