Centenary Social Events

PIMM's PARTY
The Centenary celebrations were launched with a PIMM'S party in the Club Grounds at lunchtime on Saturday 18th June.

MMTCC CENTENARY DINNER - Thursday 23rd June
Sponsored by Mitsubishi Cars

The climax to our 10-day festival was the sell-out Centenary Ball for 420 Real Tennis enthusiasts from around the world, including Club Chairman Sir Andrew Hamilton and President Lord Willoughby de Broke at Moreton Morrell Hall with HRH the Earl of Wessex as guest of honour.

The dinner was staged in a spectacular setting beside the Italianate garden on the west face of the hall, the former home of Charles Tuller Garland who built the court four years before the house was completed.

The evening featured a parade of current and former world champions including Rob Fahey, Hampton Court Head Professional Chris Ronaldson (the last Briton to take the men's title), plus three Moreton Morrell members; reigning women's world champion Charlotte Cornwallis, former world champion Sally Jones and Over 50s world champion Philip Shaw-Hamilton.

Entertainment was provided by former Club members Tim Parry, who was our Master of Ceremonies and David Troughton, who is well known for many roles on TV and at the Royal Shakespeare Company. the evening ended with an Auction of Promises.

Before the dinner, the Earl of Wessex, himself an enthusiastic player, took part in an informal doubles game partnering club chairman Sir Andrew Hamilton against vice chairman David Bryant and MMTCC head professional Tom Granville. He then joined the packed gallery to watch several matches from the latter stages of the world tournament.

Sally Jones