JOHN McEnroe’s 1981 Wimbledon outburst “You cannot be serious!” is arguably the most famous phrase in world sport.

But the rather more mannered members of Ledbury Lawn Tennis Club (LTC) were probably thinking exactly the same a good ten years before, when a developer applied to build houses all over their rented grass courts.

Unfortunately, the threat in the summer of 1970 was all too real, but that was the end of the bad news.

LTC had found a new home on Gloucester Road and five decades later has grown into a successful sporting club.

The herculean fundraising effort in the face of impending disaster led to LTC winning the Lawn Tennis Association “Club of the Year” award in 1972 along with a £1,000 cheque.

Legendary commentator Dan Maskell arrived to present it.

A “Save Our Tennis Club” campaign was launched to raise funds for the building of new courts and local businesses generously supported then chairman Clive Hitchings’ appeal for donations. However, everything hinged on finding a suitable new site.

Fortunately, as Mr Hitchings explained: “What at first glance seemed a most unlikely location, turned out to be our salvation.

“A 14-year lease for a rather muddy and sloping field on the Biddulph Estate was eventually negotiated, but the Lawn Tennis Association insisted on a 28-year lease before they would support us with a development grant.

“A compromise was reached, and the club’s new home was finally secured.”

Many members from those days still live in the Ledbury area and former club secretary Mary Winfield recalled what a worrying time it was. She added: “We all breathed a huge sigh of relief once the lease was signed, and the contractors could get started. We were temporarily homeless as a club.”

On July 4, 1971, three new hard courts were proudly unveiled at a grand opening ceremony by club president Peter Harling.

Spurred on by their achievements, members then got stuck into some serious 1970-style weekend DIY.

A concrete base was laid for a new timber-framed clubhouse and those with more specialist skills tackled the electrical wiring, installation of toilets, a septic tank and a car park.

LTC has seen many more improvements over the ensuing 50 years, including the installation of floodlights, enlargement and refurbishment of the clubhouse and most recently its new artificial grass surface.

A club born out of “energetic efforts to save from extinction”.

LTC remains a stalwart in the community.

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