Tennis has been played for 100 years on the Dorward Place courts in Montrose by everyone from beginners to Wimbledon heroes.
Lawn tennis has been played in the town for far longer.
Games were played on courts at The Mall.
The success of Montrose Tennis Club was highlighted in the Dundee Courier in February 1896 when 200 people attended the annual dance.
It was “one of the events of the season” and was “looked forward to with no little anticipation, not only in Montrose, but throughout the neighbouring counties”.
Tennis courts were opened in July 1925
Montrose Town Council recognised the growing popularity of tennis.
They opted to build six public courts at Dorward Place.
Montrose Tennis Club president Allie Henderson said Sir James Howard Warrack donated £750 towards the construction of the tennis courts and pavilion.
Shipowner Sir James originally gifted £500.
He offered an extra £250 after learning the work would cost more than estimated.
He was a generous benefactor to Montrose.
Allie said: “Sir James took a keen interest in the welfare of Montrose.
“His philanthropic efforts also extended to Montrose Academy, the local infirmary, the horticultural society and the Montrose branch of the RNLI.
“He was awarded the Freedom of the Burgh of Montrose in 1924.
“In recognition of his generosity, the pavilion bears his name, and the street behind the courts was named Warrack Terrace in his honour.
“The Dorward Place Tennis Courts officially opened in July 1925 and became a significant venue for the sport.”
Sir James was unable to perform the formal opening ceremony.
Provost Joseph Forman said they regretted that Sir James had not found it possible to be with them to see the outcome of his generosity and receive their thanks.
Dorward Place season tickets cost £1
The Courier said: “The provost referred to the popularity of Montrose summer resort and the various facilities it provided for all kinds of sport.
“He did not think the game of tennis was to boom for a time and then fall away, but, like golf, it had come to stay and to develop.
“He hoped the players would have many pleasant games on the new courts.”
The formal opening took place at 2.30pm on July 22.
It was followed by afternoon tea and a district club tournament.
Arbroath beat Forfar in the final.
There was a “gratifying demand” for £1 season tickets from local players.
In 1926, Sir James donated a mixed doubles championship trophy.
Now known as the Stevenson Cup, the trophy is still awarded each year.
Sir James died later that year in London aged 71, survived by his wife, Lady Warrack.
Alli said: “Dorward Place was one of several tennis locations in Montrose.
“It was in addition to the private courts at Links Avenue, then home to Montrose Tennis Club, and the public East Links courts on Traill Drive.
“The East Links courts closed in 1932.”
The Montrose Lawn Tennis Association was formed to organise the Montrose Open Tennis Tournament, held annually at the new courts.
In 1952, the tournament was elevated to championship status and became the North Angus Championship which attracted players from across the world.
Wimbledon champion played in 1963
Dorward Place hosted an international match between Scotland and England in August 1963 which featured 17-year-old future Grand Slam winner Virginia Wade.
England won the annual match 6-2.
Frances MacLennan scored a surprise 2-1 win over Wade in the Friday singles.
The wind made “accurate serving and timing difficult”.
Miss MacLennan played a defensive game at the start and lost the first set.
She became more aggressive in the second.
She won six games in a row before taking the final set to win 2-1.
England were 3-1 ahead on Friday.
The Saturday action was broadcast on the BBC’s flagship Grandstand sports show.
Scotland’s only win in the second day’s play came in a singles match.
Joyce Barclay from Dundee defeated Carole Rosser 6-3, 6-4.
Barclay and MacLennan lost to Rosser and Wade in the doubles.
It was the first of two big events.
The North Angus Championship followed on the Monday.
In July 1969, the courts hosted the first-ever Scottish Inter-County Weekend Tournament, with teams from North, South, East, and West Scotland.
Nine extra grass courts were prepared beside Dorward Place.
Montrose Tennis Club relocated from the private courts at Links Avenue to Dorward Place in 1971 after the original site was redeveloped for housing.
Judy Murray was a champion in 1976
Among the regular visitors in the 1970s was Judith Erskine of Dunblane.
She is known today as Judy Murray – tennis coach and mum to Andy and Jamie.
She was the leading trophy winner at the North Angus Championship in 1976.
“Miss Erskine” collected four titles.
She won the women’s open singles, beating Elspeth Walker, Duffus, 6-0, 6-2.
Those were the only two games she dropped in the event.
She also won the women’s under-21 singles, the girls’ under-18 singles, and the open mixed doubles, in which she partnered Alistair McNab from Ayr.
The most successful member of Montrose Tennis Club was Colin Baxter.
He died in March at the age of 94.
A distinguished player, Colin earned international caps and competed in numerous championship events throughout his career.
He won the Scottish singles title three times and the doubles four times.
Allie said: “As a junior, Colin competed at Wimbledon between 1946 and 1948, winning both the junior boys’ and mixed doubles titles in 1948.
“He returned to Wimbledon at the senior level between 1953 and 1963.
“In the 1950s and 1960s, he was a frequent competitor at the North Angus Championship, securing several titles.
“In recognition of his outstanding sporting achievements and unwavering support for the club, Colin was made an honorary member of Montrose Tennis Club.”
His legacy lives on through trophies named in his honour.
Centenary celebrations taking place in 2025
The courts continued to be operated by Angus Council until 1990.
Montrose Tennis Club took over its management.
The facility became available all year round instead of just five months.
Having ceased in the late-1990s due to lack of numbers, the North Angus Championship was revived in 2014 and continues to be an annual highlight.
It is now included in Tennis Scotland’s Challenger Tour.
The club marked the anniversary of the Dorward Place courts with an open day.
Past presidents, club champions, club members and local residents were treated to an exhibition match by the North of Scotland County men’s tennis team.
Captain Bruce Strachan played with Logan Gillespie against Montrose players Cameron Fryer and Patrick Young, who won the match 6-3, 4-3.
A familiar face will be returning for the anniversary grand finale on July 24.
Montrose Playhouse will be hosting a talk and Q&A with Judy Murray who will be speaking about her new novel Game, Set and Murder.
A smash-hit performance and perfect way to round off the centenary celebrations.
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