A Question of Sport and Wimbledon host Sue Barker opens club's building

Sue Barker visited Bourton Vale Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday to open its new clubhouse. Here she is pictured with club members
Sue Barker visited Bourton Vale Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday to open its new clubhouse. Here she is pictured with club members
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Sue Barker was the guest of honour as Bourton celebrated 100 years of tennis.

Bourton Vale Lawn Tennis Club celebrated its centenary with the grand opening of its new clubhouse.

Around 70 guests and members watched on as Barker, former host of the BBC's Wimbledon coverage and A Question of Sport, cut the ribbon on Saturday, August 13.

The French Open winner then enjoyed watching a vintage tournament, with players using wooden racquets, as well as an exhibition match between club coach Kingsley Harris and Ladies’ A team captain Clare Bell, whose sons presented Barker with a bouquet of flowers.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Ladies’ A team captain Clare Bell and her sons presented Sue Barker with a bouquet of flowersLadies’ A team captain Clare Bell and her sons presented Sue Barker with a bouquet of flowers

Meanwhile, club chairman Tim Hull spoke of the club’s long history in the Cotswold village, which actually dates back as far as 1910 according to recently unearthed documents.

Mr Hull not only helped organise the event, with assistance from committee members and volunteers, but also played a crucial role in the development of the new clubhouse.

The chairman supervised the planning, fundraising and commissioning of the building and also spent weeks of his own time decorating and fitting out the new facility which the club is hopeful will serve the community for its next 100 years.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: The new clubhouseThe new clubhouse

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