1950s - The lean decade
In the early 1950s membership numbers dropped to 73. The fences had been erected for 30 years and were in need of repairs and replacement. Cyclone Wire’s quote of £806 was accepted, assisted by a loan from Lane Cove Council.
In 1951 the Government introduced three-month National Service Training. Several of the Club’s Junior members were involved, so it was agreed to make due allowance in reducing their Annual Subscription by 1 guinea.
A special method of rejuvenating old balls by washing was taken on by one of the members until better and long wearing nylon armoured balls were introduced by Slazenger in 1955.
A major innovation was the introduction of Sunday morning competition with an amendment to the Constitution. In July 1952 the possibility of a bowling green at the western end of the Clubs Courts was discussed with Lane Cove Council, but not pursued.
After 33 years of continued service Cliff England and Carl Wilson were honoured with Life Membership. At the same time, a Club Blazer was introduced, the pocket, our crest and now our logo, was designed by member, Helen Molesworth (1923-2020).
The Club coach, Bevan Brown, suggested annual reciprocal matches with Lane Cove Tennis Club to foster friendship between the two clubs. This became the CH England Trophy and was contested for almost 30 years by the winners of each club’s Men’s Singles, Ladies’ Singles, Men’s Doubles, Ladies’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champions.
Foot faulting again was noticed so it was decided that “members of the committee should endeavour where possible to use their influence in tactfully correcting the foot faulting offenders.” For umpiring during competition and club championships three umpire stands were purchased.
n 1954 a new clubhouse was proposed. Committee member and architect, Mr Rex Tate, of John P Tate & Associates, agreed to draw up plans on a voluntary basis. Plans were approved by the committee and then made available to all members. A meeting was held with club members on a Saturday afternoon to seek permission to proceed. There was tremendous interest from members, so a committee of five, comprising CH England, RJ Tate, AH Pollard, C. Wilson and B. Brown, was appointed to liaise with Lane Cove Council, with costs of building to be in the vicinity of £4000.
A New Clubhouse fund was opened and club members were invited for donations of £10. A social function at the President’s home in February 1956 raised £90. A building tender for £4475 by Mr CF Sheldon was accepted, with amendments, and also with the suggestion that volunteer members do the painting which would save the club £150.
After three years of planning and fundraising the Clubhouse was opened on 2 February 1957 by Mayor Alderman Albert E. Shaw at a total cost of £5,355. The Lane Cove Advertiser of 7 February 1957 noted : “A Guard of Honour by Boy Scouts of the Mayor’s own Group lent a colourful note at the official opening of the new Clubhouse for the Longueville Tennis Club by the Mayor, Alderman Albert E. Shaw.”
“While tennis remains an integral part of Australian oudoor life, it is the duty of the Council to assist such clubs,” said alderman Shaw, “ and the Club has enhanced the amenities of the neighbourhood as well as those of its members”. The Mayoress then presented prizes to the winners of the 1956 Club Championships, after which the Mayor affixed a brass plaque commemorating the opening of the Clubhouse.
In April 1957 “Cliff England resigned as President after 30 years on committee as President, Treasurer, Secretary and good friend to the Club. Cliff gave most liberally of his time and his money, and his general advice to and his leadership of the Club have been important factors in bringing it to the position it now occupies. His work during the past couple of years has been particularly associated with the building of the new clubhouse of which we are so proud.” He was then invited to be Patron, a position he held until his death in 1979. At the 1970 AGM Cliff England was acknowledged as a foundation member and Club member for 50 years. Over his lifetime, he served the Club for 58 years.
In November 1957 a new refrigerator was purchased on time payment at a cost of 15/- per week for 3 years! This was a total cost of £117, the equivalent of 23 annual memberships then. In 2022 figures this is a cost of $4600 in annual memberships.
The Motion was moved at the 1957 AGM “that all hard courts be changed over to grass and Courts 3 and 4 be transferred as soon as possible, and if successful, courts 1 and 2 to be transferred when the committee feels it is propitious to do so.” Court 4 was completed and ready for play in April 1958 at a cost of £244. By 1959 the decision of conversion of court 3 to grass was left in abeyance.
In 1959 after 38 generous years, the committee “moved and seconded that the giving of wedding presents to club members be discontinued.”