Nostalgia: Serving up a slice of city's tennis love

Published on Saturday 4 July 2009 11:20

ADMITTEDLY, this scene at Craiglockhart tennis courts in 1971 bares little resemblance to those witnessed at Wimbledon over the last fortnight.

With many empty seats and just a handful of people watching leisurely from the overlooking grassy embankment, there appears to be none of the tension and suspense found at the London event.

Despite what this picture may suggest, the Scottish Tennis Championships, held at the courts that July, were a big attraction for tennis fans, featuring many exciting, action-packed games.

Many spectators would have been lucky enough to witness Joyce Williams regaining her lawn tennis title that year, beating Winnie Shaw in straight sets, holding up the trophy for the eighth time since her first victory as a schoolgirl.

If they were at the event one year later, they would have seen Britain's then number one, Virginia Wade, with her doubles partner Corinne Molesworth, in a surprising victory over Joyce Williams and Winnie Shaw, who were the British number two and three at the time, in three sets.

Tennis has always been big news in Edinburgh. The 100th anniversary of Barnton Park Lawn Tennis Club this year is evidence of that.

The club formed in 1909, around 30 years after lawn tennis started in 1874. Up until then, real tennis was only played indoors, often to the accompaniment of brass bands.

Pictured here is one of the first group shots of the club's members, along with the men's first team from the 1951-2 season, featuring Pat Noble, Geoff Courtney, Craigie Pringle, Clark Sharp, Gurdit Dhillon and Gus Cameron.

One of the first Edinburgh tennis stars to really hit the big time was Harold Mahony, who was born in the Capital, but raised in Ireland. He won the Wimbledon singles title in 1896, remaining one of the world's all-time greats.

This illustration of his Wimbledon win will delight fans, particularly for the stark contrasts that can be drawn between the 19th and 21st centuries. Mahony is wearing belted trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, while women in the crowd sport flamboyant dresses – nothing like the vest-tops and shorts many female onlookers wear in modern days.

Mahony is also in striking contrast to the sleek, star-like image of Jimmy Connors, who arrived to a welcome of excited fans at Edinburgh Airport in November 1975, ahead of his appearance at the Dewer Cup.

Offering another comparison with the appearance of modern day players, is this picture of the St Trinnean's School tennis team from 1926.

The pupils reflected on their days in the team at a reunion in 1998, held at their former school building, St Leonard's Hall, which is now part of Edinburgh University.