M


ost of us associate Brooklands with motorsport and aviation, yet there was another sporting pursuit


carried out within the circuit, involving a racquet and ball. Tennis was first proposed by members of the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club (BARC) as early as 1911, a time when most of the available infield was being developed for use as a centre for the new-fangled pursuit of aviation. Much of the ground was still very rough with the remains of large gravel pits dug for the construction of the track along with a sprinkling of cottages and a few trees that had escaped being felled during that hectic period of construction in 1906-07. This did mean, though, there was space to develop another facility to both serve existing members and encourage more to join for the social activities on offer. To


Sammy Davis’s AC gets some attention on the Banking with the tennis courts immediately behind in 1921. FOR TENNIS


NOT JUST ANYONE


Alongside racing and aviation, Brooklands enjoyed a thriving tennis club with some notable members, as Tim Morris explains.


Photos: Brooklands Museum Collection/Tim Morris


All six courts can be seen between the banking and Finishing Straight. This 1925 picture shows the small wooden storage huts.


JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | BROOKLANDS BULLETIN 33


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