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04/07/2008


my photos

anyone for tennis ...

The photo above shows my paternal Grandad back in the 1930s wearing his tennis whites. As a child I remember my brother and I being allowed to take both his and my Granny's wooden rackets out of their presses and use them to knock around a ball on the drive. After use they would always be put back in the press. I wonder what happened to them, maybe my Dad or Uncle still has them?

We are nearly at the end of Wimbledon fortnight. I must confess to not following tennis to a great extent these days, I have been completely put off watching the game by the increased use of grunting. I really can't listen to it!

Run by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon is regarded as the premier tennis tournament in the world. It is also the oldest, dating back to 1877. The first championship was a small event more comparable to a garden party than to a national tournament. Around 200 people attended, in contrast to the thousands that attend every year nowadays. Traditions at Wimbledon include a rule that players must wear all white, and that they must curtsey or bow if the Queen or Prince of Wales is present. Another unofficial tradition is the eating of strawberries and cream.

Quiet please, Wimbledon has been voted a British Icon.



Above is a photo of my paternal Granny in her tennis whites and sporting a very nice slave bangle and peak cap. I love both these photos. The late 1930s were the golden years for British Tennis, with Fred Perry and Dorothy Round taking the titles.


32 comments:

Twiggy said...

I must say I am totally not a tennis fan but think your grandparents look very snazzy. What a stylish couple
Twiggy x

méri said...

A very handsome couple, your grandparents!
And yes Wimbledon is a British icon as Royal Ascot racing

carolr said...

I don't know much about tennis either, BUT I do love old photos and your g-parents look so...right I think!
Happy Day Louise!

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

I cannot agree with you more about the grunting? Funny, I never grunted when playing...of course, I was younger and in better shape, too. haha.

Louise, these are wonderful photos of your grandparents. Sure funny how the hems have shortened over the years, however I see jewelry was a key element, even back then.

Sweet post and now I will think of you each time I hear about Wimbledon.

Cheers!

xo
Becky

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What fabulous photos! I have a niece who was a top notch tennis player and went to college on a tennis scholarship, but as she approaches 30 years old she can't compete as well anymore. It's a game of quick reflexes and strength.

I like the strawberries and cream requirement :-)

Simone said...

Your Granny and Grandad look very dapper. People don't seem to have style anymore do they?

Pretty Practicals said...

Hi Louise, what lovely pictures! My great uncle played at the 1908 Wimbledon tornament, he didn't make it past the first round, but it must have been great fun.
Hope all is well, sorry I haven't been to visit your blog much recently... I've been enjoying the little summer that we get here in the mountains.
Chat soon, Liz

prettyshabby said...

Fab photos Louise..I've just read the milk post too..I loved those old bottles, cant remember humphrey though..we used to have a bread man who would come round and toot his horn..the bread was still warm from being baked! yum..oh those were the days!

The Dutchess said...

I love old pictures..the dress your grandmother is wearing is very modern,you would look very good in it today!!

Sal said...

I love tennis! I won the tennis cup when I was in 6th form!
I didn't dress like your paternal granny though!!
One year we played against a school from Paignton..Sue Barker was in their team!! They slaughtered us;-)

Gina said...

These are wondeful pics Louise, obviously white was a requirement for your grandparents too.. I am a huge tennis fan and have played for years but have had an ankle injury for the last year...getting back into it soon hopefully.. these 2 weeks I am virtually nocturnal, drinking way to much coffee..wouldn't have it any other way! Gx

Ally Jay said...

They are fabulous photos. We hear nothing of Wimbledon over here in NZ, althoug if there was so much as a kiwi ice cream seller they would report on that.

Country Cottage Chic said...

What super photos!
I'm told that my maternal great-grandfather was a professional cricketer & in the off season he taught the rich & famous to play tennis. Unfortunately I don't have any photos. :-(

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

Great photos, Louise! I just watched Venus beat Serena. I do enjoy tennis, both playing and watching, although I agree the grunting is obnoxious!

Glo said...

I love lavender, too, and like the way you always add some extra info :) I hought you might enjoy reading All About Lavender on this site: http://www.apinchof.com/lavender1095.htm

Great photos :)

Glo said...

Whoops, my lavender comment went on the wrong posting... Thanks for sharing the wonderful pics of your grandparents in their tennis outfits. Lovely to have them ~

Ragged Roses said...

What wonderful photos! I'm glad I;m not the only one to have noticed the grunting, it's getting louder and louder ..
Kimx

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Wimbledon is so much better with the volume down or off these days but I still get hooked on the men's finals...
I love the elegance and style of your grandparents in their tennis whites... much nicer than Nike!

With love
Michelex

carolyn said...

Wonderful photographs and so elegant.

periwinkle said...

the mens final is one as I type this and it's the only bit of tennis I have seen this year. I agree about the grunting

Jennie said...

Love the pictures!!
I don't really watch the tennis, in fact I was waiting for 'George Gently' this evening and it was cancelled because of the Tennis so I am not friends with it right now. ;)

Carol said...

Hi Louise,
They are lovely photos...interesting about the slave bangle I have a few of these which came from Africa, my anut lived there for a while.
I know just what you mean about the grunting! what is that all about? sounds like they are in some sort of pain!
Carol x

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

Wow, did you see the men's final! Fantastic! Long - but riveting!

Anonymous said...

Louise, these are great! It's so cool that you have these of your grandparents.

Stella said...

Hi Lou, great photos, doesn't G do a 'pose'? I was switching between the tennis and a programme about PA's so I can't say that I am a 'real' fan but Steve was glued, must be in the genes?

Unknown said...

ahh the grunting .... my Fathers favorite complaint about wimbledon ;-) I think he likes to grunt about the grunting ......

Anonymous said...

I love old photographs ~ how wonderful to have these of your grandparents.

I went to school in Wimbledon, but I must confess that I was never much of a tennis fan!

Marie x

Kris said...

Wimbledon is shown here in Australia, although in the middle of the night. Aussies are crazy for watching any kind of sport. I always manage to catch some. It brings back memories for me. My mother loves to watch tennis and always watched Wimbledon. She would have a nap in the early evening and then sit up in front of the heater with her knitting and watch the tv. To me 'Wimbledon' is synonymous with knitted garments!!!

Niesz Vintage Home said...

What great photos of your grandparents!
Quite a striking couple.

Kimberly :)

Twiggy said...

Cooeeee get over to my blog, there's a little something for you!
Twiggy x

Anonymous said...

Wonderful photos...very nostalgic...love those whites!

We've a photo of my dad in the cricket team when his school won the county trophy. But my dad was the only one in a grey shirt, not cricket whites, because his parents were so poor they couln't afford to buy him the proper gear. He was always very fond of cricket and we used to play it all the time.
Margaret and Noreen

Anonymous said...

Hi Louise,
What a glamorous pair they are!
We had some wooden rackets and I never understood why they had to go in a press after use,funny thing was i never asked anyone,i would just put it back and think STRANGE? lol
Love Kristina XxX