The post-pandemic grass is going to be greener for a historic Tayside tennis club celebrating a milestone year.
In the midst of what should have been a bustling Wimbledon fortnight, Dundee’s West End Lawn Tennis Club has been delighted to see work resume on a £60,000 renovation of its courts after Covid-19 stopped project in its tracks.
The club is celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2020, but for the first time in a distinguished history – which has produced a Wimbledon ladies semi-finalist – was forced to suspend play at its Shaftesbury Road courts.
Club president Amanda Barclay said: “Frustratingly our members experienced a double whammy as lockdown coincided not only with the start of the new tennis season, but also the start of work on the club’s eagerly anticipated new courts.”
After a two-year fundraising campaign, four new all-weather courts are being installed to replace the worn out surface which has served players well for years.
Work was due to start in April on the project which will see three courts resurfaced, the conversion of a singles court to a dual-use singles court with two mini tennis courts and improved access to the club.
However, Covid-19 intervened and threw the timetable up in the air.
“The carpet could not be shipped from Belgium and weeks of uncertainty followed,” said Amanda. “Finally, when restrictions began to ease at the end of May, the contractors pulled out all stops to reschedule work at the club and work began on June 15. The new courts should reopen on July 12.
“As tennis is a sport which can be played safely with social distancing, the club not only looks forward to welcoming back members, but to making sessions available to the wider public who may be tempted to try tennis whilst other forms of sports are restricted,” she added.
A double celebration of the 120th anniversary and the new courts is being organised for a later date when coronavirus restrictions allow at the 140-member club.
That will feature the success of West End honorary member Joyce Williams Bennet, who reached the semi-final of Wimbledon in 1972.
As Joyce Williams, she was knocked out of the 1969 singles of the SW19 championship, but recorded the highlight of her career in the doubles event three years’ later alongside fellow Scot Winnie Shaw.
Joyce retired from the sport in 1976 before becoming a coach to players including Grand Slam winner Sue Barker, and was a BBC radio commentator for more than two decades.
