Penzance Open Tournament 1951
County Badge – left May Colliver, right Rita Collin
1947 The Club was founded. There were 2 hard courts on the promenade, and play was on 3 evenings a week.
1948 The first official meeting was in the spring of 1948 when a committee was elected.
The club moved to 3 courts at the Penlee Bowling Club soon after.
1950 The club moved to its current location in Penlee Park. There were 4 ‘En Tout Cas’ shale courts in front of 2 existing grass courts. The summer of 1950 saw the first Open Tournament.
1957 Junior Section started. There were approximately 30 juniors aged between 12 and 18. One single advert brought 27 applicants.
1969 A new purpose built pavilion was erected (after 10 years of effort).
1986 The 2 grass courts, no’s 5&6 were converted to ‘all weather’.
1994 The 4 shale courts were converted to porous macadam.
2003 Lottery grant, finally awarded after 9 long years trying.
2005 All lottery work completed. We now have a new clubhouse, 4 artificial grass courts, 3 macadam courts, a mini tennis court and practice wall, plus 5 sets of floodlights, with all new fencing pathways, etc.
2009 The Club attained Clubmark accreditation.
2010 Accredited with LTA Beacon Status in recognition of the fun and affordable tennis that we offer to The Local Community.
2011 The Club’s “First Service Cafe” was awarded the Cornwall Council “Cornwall Healthier Eating and Food Safety” – CHEFS (Gold) Award.
2011 The Club was awarded Sports ‘Club of the Year 2011’ by the Cornwall Sports Partnership.
2012 Once again the Club’s “First Service Cafe” was awarded the Cornwall Council CHEFS (Gold) Award.
2012 The Club successfully applied to HM Revenue & customs for Community Amateur Sports Club Status (CASC) This has enabled the Club to benefit from a range of tax reliefs, including Gift Aid, and mandatory rate relief.
2013 Floodlights were added to courts 6&7.
2013 Courts 1-4 artificial grass rejuvenated to aid drainage (pneumatic removal of the contaminated sand, de-compaction of the remainder, addition of new specially graded silica sand followed by mechanical brushing to form an even playing surface)
2014 The “First Service Cafe” was awarded the prestigious Cornwall Council CHEFS (Platinum) Award, having been awarded the (Gold) Award 3 times.
2014 Joyce Taylor was Cornwall and South West Region Volunteer of the Year, plus a National Finalist for the British Tennis Awards for Outstanding Achievement in recognition of services to British Tennis
2014 Mel Jones voted in as Club President
2015 Keith Songhurst one of the club coaches won the Cornishman Community Awards 2014 ‘Sportsperson of the Year’.
2016 40 solar panels fitted to South elevation of the Club, payback for the expense via our suppliers Feed in Tariff scheme expected after 8 years.
2016 Anna Clemens – Cornwall and South West Region Volunteer of the Year for the British Tennis Awards for Outstanding Achievement in recognition of services to British Tennis
2017 Landscaping works to improve viewing and seating, completed and a new storage shed, adjacent to the mini tennis court, installed.
2018 Courts 6&7 resurfaced and, with mini tennis court, repainted.
2018 Courts 1-4 artificial grass rejuvenated for 2nd time to extend playing life of surface.
2018 Tricia Smith was a National Finalist for the 2017 British Tennis Awards, Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of services to British Tennis
2019 Trevor Newborn – Cornwall and South West Region Volunteer of the Year for the British Tennis Awards, Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of services to British Tennis
2021 Head Coach Ian Vidgen awarded LTA Cornwall and South West region “Coach of the Year”, and was one of 7 LTA National finalists.
2021 Keith Songhurst Club Coach awarded James Webster Memorial Cup for ‘Outstanding contribution to tennis in Cornwall
2022 Sammy Bassett awarded Cornwall Tennis Development Coach of the Year
2023 Courts 1-4 artificial grass courts replaced with ‘state of the art’ Tiger Turf at the cost of £100k.
