Manor Park Sports Club

A short history of Manor Park, Malvern

Compiled from information in formal records and from the recollections of members, Spring 2003.

1st revision December 2005

MJ Taylor

Manor Park is a major centre for sport in Worcestershire situated in ten attractive acres near the centre of Malvern. At the time of writing it provides facilities for tennis, squash, racketballi, table tennis, archery and bowls; tennis and bowls have both indoor and outdoor facilities.

The fortunes of the Park have fluctuated over the years since Lady Catherine Grey formally opened it in 1907, particularly as the result of the two world wars and during the 1930's great depression. However, all sports are currently flourishing, and there has recently been a major expansion of facilities. The objective, as it has always been, is to provide the best possible opportunities in sport for the people of Malvern and surrounding areas. Manor Park is open to all.

It must be said at the outset that the story of Manor Park is in no small measure the story of the many individuals who have given generously of their time over the years to help the facility realise its obvious potential. These individuals have contributed to both sport and administration aspects. There have also been several generous benefactors as well as other individuals who have been prepared to take on considerable responsibilities as Trustees. It has been possible to mention only a few of these people in this short account.

The Early Years

The impetus for creating Manor Park came from a group of local notables who recognised the need for much better facilities for a range of sports in Malvern. Some of these individuals became financial guarantors (a group of 18). Others became members of the Executive Committee. The ground was leased from Sir Henry and Lady Greyii, with four committee members acting as lessees. The centre was initially named the 'Malvern Recreation Area' but this was changed a few months later, and prior to the opening, to Manor Park.

Manor Park initially catered for tennis, croquet, hockey, archery and bowls, with the first two of these dominating. However, the lower part of the grounds near the railway line has also occasionally been let for other sport activities over the years, including football. To begin with, income came largely from casual play in tennis and croquet, with some players purchasing season tickets. A single annual fee was also charged to Malvern clubs using the grounds for the above sports. By 1914, for example, two bowling clubs were playing at Manor Park (one on the croquet lawn at the western end). Parts of the ground were at times also rented to Malvern Archery Clubiii, to the local Croquet Association, to two or three local tennis clubs (Lansdowne Club, for example) and to several schools.

Before its conversion to a sports ground Manor Park had been a stock grazing meadow with a cow shed and a duck pond in the middle. In the run-up to the formal opening in 1907 there was a flurry of activity to get the grounds ready and agree entry charges. Most of the several levels, known as 'flats', were created at that time, all without the aid of modern machinery of course iv. Hedges were planted around the boundaries and an open-air 'auditorium' created below what is now known as the old clubhouse on the southern bank. A gatekeeper was appointed. The chairman at this time was James B Close and the President Sir Henry Grey.

The scene at the opening of Manor Park in 1907

It appears that a major loan was made by Sir Henry and Lady Grey towards the costs of all this, but an appeal was also made in the Malvern Gazette for donations. In the following years there was to be much fund raising by traditional means, which included whist drives and gymkhanas.

Sport activity built up steadily. Tennis and croquet tournaments were held regularly, including an annual Open Lawn Tennis Tournament. Amongst the annual awards was the Stanley Baldwin Lawn Tennis Challenge Cup. Despite this success on the sport side there appears to have been a constant concern about finances, and calls were made on the guarantee fund to meet deficits in most years. At one stage every playing member was asked to guarantee at least one guinea.

During World War 1

The period during World War 1 was obviously destined to be exceptionally difficult. All too soon, usage of the Park dropped substantially, labour became scarce and there was increasing difficulty with providing adequate ground maintenancev.

Nevertheless club activities carried on through 1915, 1916 and much of 1917, albeit abated. In May 1915 it was resolved to let wounded soldiers come and 'sit in Manor Park', and to give old croquet balls to 'the various hospitals'. Royal Engineers were invited to use the courts. However, annual financial losses predictably increased and in 1917, as the 'call to National Service' became urgent, Manor Park faced the extra burden of a major rise in land tax (although this tax was recognised by committee members as 'reasonable in the circumstances'). By early 1918 the Park was essentially closed for normal activity. In spite of this, great effort was made to maintain the court surfaces since it was clear to all that if this were not done they would probably have to be re-laid after the war, whenever that might be.

The 20's and 30's - Lady Grey's gift

A lot of work was done immediately after the war to bring the courts back into reasonable condition. Sport activity built up steadily again after the war but finances continued to be a major headache for a time, with continuing calls on the guarantors for fundsvi. Nevertheless, by 1921 the Club ended the year with a substantial bank balance for the first time. This was just as well since it was during this year that Lady Grey generously decided to make a gift of the land in Trust to Manor Park, in memory of her late husband Sir Henry: from this point on there were to be no guarantors and Manor Park would have to pay its own wayvii. A new management committee was appointed at this timeviii.

The Trust deed states that Manor Park is to be used to provide sport and leisure facilities for the people of Malvern and this remit has been the stimulus for all subsequent developments.

Meanwhile, sport activities continued to develop. The Open Lawn Tennis and Croquet tournaments were reinstated. The now renowned Junior Open Lawn Tennis tournament was initiated in 1923, and County matches were held at Manor Park. Development of the facilities also continued, and the top flat was converted to shale tennis courts in 1924, using local gravel. The collapsed wall at the back of the courts on the top flat was rebuilt in 1923. Motor mowers were purchased, but a pony was still kept on to haul the roller.

In 1926 the existing Pavilion (currently the County LTA offices) was converted into changing rooms and a new building to the east of that was erected as a tea room. Extensive court drainage work was also carried out. By this time there were three full time groundsmen. Requests for Sunday opening - which was still forbidden in the Rules although becoming a widespread practice in other parts of the country - led to a vigorous and continuing debateix, but limited play was eventually allowed.

A full size bowling green was created during 1929 by extending the existing green a few yards to the east; this was implemented against the wishes of the archers on whose range it encroached. However, a principle was established that the bowling club would not necessarily have exclusive use of the green. It was in this year, as the great depression approached, that worries were again expressed about deteriorating finances. This was partly due to the bowling green development costs, but also due to a doubling of rates and reduced play in tennis. By 1930 it had become necessary to lay off one of the three groundsmen, and doubt was expressed at the AGM about the long-term viability of Manor Park. The heavy cost of maintaining the extensive grounds of Manor Park would be an issue for many years to come.

The situation had not much improved by 1932. Membership was declining. A particular concern was that other bowling greens were being created in the area, including one by the local District Council, and these were drawing bowlers away from Manor Park. In spite of these difficulties it was resolved to continue the development of Manor Park to the greatest extent possible in the circumstances.

The formation of Manor Park Club: In 1934 there had been a modest improvement in the finances, but the need was felt for a more assured annual income, rather than relying so much on casual play in tennis. This seems to have been the main reason that, during this year, Manor Park was officially formed into a Club, with members.

Meanwhile, Dorothy Round, a Worcestershire County Player who played at Manor Park, won the ladies singles Championships at Wimbledon in 1934 (following Fred Perry's success in the men's singles the previous day). In that final she beat Helen Jacobs, and in 1937 she beat Miss J. Jedrejowska. In 1933 she had been runner up to Mrs. F. S. Moody. Miss Round was later to be elected as an honorary member of Manor Park.

In 1935 two new shale tennis courts were created and the pavilion was let for table tennis to the newly formed 'Ping Club' one day a week. The finances had substantially recovered by 1936, although there was still a debt to the bank due to previous developments.

Action at the annual open tournament 1937

Tennis was flourishing in 1938 but croquet on the decline. This seems to have led to some temporary friction when the tennis section suggested that one of the three croquet lawns be put at its disposal. This minor dispute had eventually to be resolved by the Trustees who decreed that tennis should indeed have access to the croquet lawn, but that the bowling green should be put at the disposal of the Croquet Club (the West Worcestershire) for the annual Open Croquet tournament. Manor Park Club membership at this stage was just over 200, not counting bowlers and archers.

Despite the generally favourable financial situation reported in 1939, concern was still being expressed about lack of substantial headway in reducing borrowings. It was during this year that Manor Park sadly parted company with Mr Easthope, the head groundsman from its earliest days.

During World War 2

Sport activities continued during WW2 despite some misgivings as to whether they were appropriate in the circumstances x.

At this time Manor Park remained primarily a Lawn Tennis and Croquet club, and perhaps continued to be regarded by some as rather elitist, a reputation that unjustifiably lingered on into the 50s and 60s. As would be expected, activity was much reduced during these hard times, mainly because of the absence of young people but also partly because of the restrictions on the use of petrol by the Club and by individuals privatelyxi. Concessions were made to members of the H.M. Forces stationed locally to use the facilities. Nevertheless, the decline in activity was particularly significant in croquet, continuing the downward trend that had begun prior to the warxii, and which eventually led to the abandonment of croquet soon after the war. Unsurprisingly, the Club experienced some financial difficultiesxiii. Amongst ways initiated of generating more income was letting the old Clubhouse (then known then as the pavilion) for dancing classes that were being started by Miss Marjorie Chaterxiv

Club records say little about sport activities during this period. However, one notable achievement in the circumstances was to keep the annual Open Junior (tennis) Tournament going, this being one of the oldest such tournaments in the world. There was also an annual award of the Smyth tournament cup for tennisxv.

During the war period, there were a several different Management Committee Chairmen, including O. Meade-King, E. Scott, C.W. Dyson-Perrins, F. Russell-Bishop, and M.T. Stevens. All were prominent members of the community, some were also Trustees and most of them had been with the Club since its inception.

Post World War 2

Sport activity soon built up again after the war and much credit for this was given to W.E (Ted) Turley. For a period of ten or more years during the 40s and 50s Ted ran club affairs tirelessly as Hon. Secretary, whilst also acting as tennis membership secretary and carrying out the role of Grounds Manager. He eventually retired in 1954 and was elected an honorary member. During most of this period FR Russell Bishop, Vice President, chaired the management meetings. CW Dyson Perrins was President.

The October 1944 management meeting considered what steps could best now be taken to improve the amenities of the Club and to coordinate its activities with the proposals of the Post War Planning Committee of the Malvern Urban District Council. On Ted's suggestion construction was recommended of buildings for squash and badminton at the northern end of the bowling green. The idea was that the green could then be converted to tennis courts with stands to host tournaments. This building project was eventually postponed indefinitely due to shortage of labour after the war, presumably to the great relief of the bowlers.

Another perceived option much discussed at this time was the sale of what is now known as the paddock. However it was eventually discovered that this would not serve the required purpose since the Trust Deed requires that the proceeds of any such sale shall be donated to Malvern General Hospital. Also at that time a donation of £25 was agreed to the Malvern Welcome Home Fund and all returning Servicemen were given free membership for one year (later extended to two). The price then of admission to Manor Park was sixpence and the bowls club rental was two and sixpence.

By 1947 the decline of the croquet section was again of major concern, there being only one member! Efforts to revive the section over the next few years had minimal success and it was essentially defunct by the end of the decade. In 1948 it was reported that the archery section was also temporarily defunct, but the Piers Plowman Club archery group revived it in 1950. The archery field was then also used by Douglas House School for netball and hockey. Also in 1950 there were first suggestions for running a bar in the pavilion to raise extra income, and one was brought into operation the following year. Electric lighting had been installed in the pavilion in 1948xvi, allowing winter evening activities.

In 1951 it was decided to add a further 6 grass tennis courts and two hard courts, if possible. The croquet lawns would be converted for tennis and new flats also created further down the site. Members were asked to help with funding. The work of creating the courts was eventually directed by head groundsman Sexton (staff were always referred to by their surnames). All the new courts were in use for the 1953 season, and Mr Sexton was praised for his work. The total cost was recorded as £525. It was at this time that the Croquet pavilion of the by now defunct West Worcestershire Croquet Association was donated to Manor Park. This pavilion stood for some time in later years on the site that is now occupied by the Indoor Bowls hall, but it was eventually demolished. Two of the new tennis courts at the eastern end of the site were hired to the Methodist Youth Club for a period several years later.

Mr Sexton eventually retired in 1955 after 36 years of service with Manor Park and for some period from then on it proved difficult to maintain the quality of grounds work. There was in fact no groundsman at all during the winter of 56/57 and members did any work that was necessary. Voluntary help with grounds work would periodically be required from members over the next few years.

By the mid fifties the finances were showing signs of increasing fragility, and various means were being sort to increase income and reduce expenditure. A formal appeal was made against the heavy rating assessment, for example. There were also rumblings about the fact that income from the bowlers was insufficient to cover the cost of maintaining the bowling green (which would continue to be an issue for many years to come). In 1961 it was agreed to accept an offer of £150 pa from Malvern Urban District Council: MUDC required representation on the management committee in return.

By 1958 management meetings were being chaired by Dr JC Smyth under the Presidency of Mrs Dyson Perrins. Dr Smyth would be succeeded in the early sixties by Maj. Jack Kendal who would hold the reigns for some considerable period and be instrumental in helping Manor Park through an increasingly difficult financial period. Meanwhile there were flourishing Club nights for tennis with all courts full, active social tennis on Sundaysxvii, and many other social events. In addition to league matches, there were many friendly tennis matches against other Clubs. Manor Park continued to host the prestigious, pre-Wimbledon, Malvern Open Tournament during which there were appearances of many well-known players, including Arthur Ashe, Mike Davis, Tony Pickard, Bill Knight, Bobby Wilson, Frew McMillan, Bob Hewitt and Betty Stove, as well as GB Wightman Cup players Carole Rosser and Elizabeth Starkey. Anne Jones (nee Haydon) won the women's event prior to becoming Wimbledon champion in 1969. The other sports also flourished, with the temporary addition of basketball.

Intriguingly, the sum of £20. 10. 3. was paid in 1959 to the Commissioners to redeem the tithe charge on the grounds. The Balcony was extended in 1961 and it was agreed to erect a shelter near the lower hard courts. Both would be suitably inscribed to the memory of late Chairman, F.R. Russell Bishop.

During the early sixties, however, participation in tennis began to decline, largely following the national trend, and finances continued to deteriorate. In 1962 some very secretive meetings were held with Malvern Urban District Council, so secret in fact that those who attended refused to say what was discussed. One assumes that it must have been to make the Council aware of the financial situation and discuss eventualities. It is known that a three-year grant of £500 p.a. was applied for.

By 1963 the number of senior playing tennis members had dropped to less than half the pre-war level. The continued deterioration of Club finances began to be reflected in the appearance of the grounds, with much of the grounds work having to be done by volunteers xviii.

Clearly something had to be done to reverse this state of affairs, and plans were initiated under then chairman Jack Kendall to drastically improve Club income generating facilities. Stage one included the construction of two squash courts in 1967 (capitalising on the rising national enthusiasm for squash) xix and a new lounge barxx, together with general restoration of the pavilionxxi. A programme to improve the playing surfaces was also initiated. Floodlights were installed on two of the shale tennis courts at the western end, thus making Manor Park one of the first Clubs in the country to boast floodlit courts. The squash courts were an immediate success, although, predictably perhaps, relationships between the 'new' squash and the existing tennis members took some time to settlexxii.

The Malvern Open (Tennis) Tournament sadly had to be discontinued after holding its 53rd tournament in 1971. The tournament had become financially non-viable due to rising costs and reducing public support which were attributed to the advent of commercial tennis and television.

Further improvements were planned in the years approaching 1980 under chairman Michael Mason in what was called 'Project 80'. The thrust of these was to further develop the old clubhouse and improve changing facilitiesxxiii. However, the focus on social facilities did not meet with the general approval of members because it would not obviously lead to increased revenue, this being the prime need. It was therefore decided not to proceed with this scheme. Nevertheless, the need for better social facilities was real and would re-emerge in later years. Meanwhile a different approach was introduced under new chairman, Michael Vaughan, who took office in late 1978. Development was initially to be focused on further improvement to the sport facilities, in a rolling programme.

Thus, in the following 20 years or so a substantial programme to improve and develop the sport facilities was initiated. This began with renovation of the tennis court surfaces and renewal of the chain link fencing around the courts, which had become dilapidated and unsightly. A contract groundsman was appointed in 1981. Further developments then were: two new all-weather tennis courts at the eastern end of the site - to the west of the bowling green - (1981), two additional squash courts with adjacent changing rooms (1983-4), a six-rink indoor bowls hall (1986-7) xxiv and a two-court indoor tennis hall (1994-95) coupled with extensions to the changing rooms in the main Club complex and resurfacing the all-weather tennis court to the west of the tennis hall (court 13). More recently (2000-2002) the four old shale courts at the west end of the site were replaced with acrylic surfaces and the four grass courts immediately below the old pavilion were replaced by artificial grass (leaving the four real grass courts to the west of these). Floodlighting was updated on two of the acrylic courts and new floodlighting installed on two of the artificial grass courts, while the old tennis practice wall, previously located between the new clubhouse complex and the tennis hall, was demolished and a new wall built at the western end of the site. Finally, a new outdoor bowls pavilion was constructed in year 2000xxv; the old structure had developed a leaking roof and, because of quantities of asbestos in its structure, was beyond repair.

Activity in the bowls hall

In addition to the new sport facilities, the bar in the old pavilion was eventually closed and at first replaced with two bars, one in the squash court complex (in what subsequently became the southern end of the extended men's changing room) and one in the indoor bowls hall. However, running two bars became prohibitively expensive, and the opportunity was taken to combine the two bars into one in a new social area that was constructed between the squash courts and bowls hall in 1989-90 together with a dining room and kitchen complex. The dining room was given the name 'Vaughan Hall' in recognition of the services of Michael Vaughan as chairman. Finally, much of driveway was tarmaced towards the end of this development period and driveway lighting installed.

The old clubhouse buildings, although used occasionally for summer tennis events, had begun to fall into some disrepair in the 80's and 90's as the focus of activities moved to the new complex. However, part of the old building (which had been changing rooms) acquired a new lease of life from 1999 when it was renovated to become the offices of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire LTA. Since about 1997 Malvern and District table tennis teams have had exclusive use of the old clubhouse room itself during the winter season.

The squash courts were christened 'The Kendal Courts' when the second phase was completed, in recognition of the earlier contribution of former chairman Jack Kendal. Heating of all four squash courts was introduced a little after this time. The original two courts had been unheated, as was the custom, and were in fact partially open to the elements through latticed wooden vents that spanned the top of the front wall of each court. All four courts were equipped with sprung maple floors. Both floors and walls have been maintained to a high standard since that timexxvi.

The Club archery section has continued to use the field at the bottom (eastern end) of the site during summer months. This field was also occasionally used in the 60s and 70s for tennis during the Junior Tournament, and also, by participants in the tournament, as a camping groundxxvii. During renovation of the tennis courts in year 2000 the opportunity was taken, using the displaced soil, to level the archery field and improve drainagexxviii.

A view from the bowls green with the tennis hall in the foreground

As can be imagined, these major developments substantially changed the appearance of the site. This was not, however, merely due to the growth of new buildings. In the 70s, before much of this work had begun, the whole site had become down at heel. The netting round the tennis courts was rusty and dilapidated. The driveway was little more than a muddy track between grassy verges. The shale court surfaces had become rough and uneven, with weeds growing round the edges. Hedges were overgrown and the old clubhouse was in decay with gaps in the brickwork and broken window panes. This all gave a very bad impression when viewed from outside, a negative image that was not helped by the fact that the tennis courts could be seen to be empty most of the time. There was accordingly much adverse comment from townsfolk, and recruiting new members in these circumstances was problematical. The situation now, at the beginning of the new millennium, could hardly be more different.

New sports surfaces

As indicated above, during this period, from about 1986 onwards, the Club began to make use of the newly developed artificial surfaces for tennis and bowls, both indoor and outdoor. The choice of surface was the result of careful research by teams led by then section chairmen Derek Baddeley, for tennis, and Les Thomas for Bowls.

Tennis

Cushioned acrylic surfaces (Synpave Spring) were installed in both the indoor tennis hall and as the replacement for the four outdoor shale courts at the top (western end) of the site. These were generally liked, although the outdoor courts suffered from a problem of surface glare in sunny and wet conditions and were prone to develop mould. However, their availability proved significantly greater than the old shale courts (which were becoming waterlogged and uneven in winter).

The Norton Xtraturf (18mm twisted pile) artificial grass surface was used for the four outdoor courts. There had been much soul searching about digging up the original real grass, but the effort required to maintain these to sufficiently high quality, together with their being available for only a few months of the year, swayed the day. Fortunately, the new artificial surface proved hugely popular with Club members and teams alike, being available almost all year round and not suffering from the disadvantages of the acrylic.

Bowls

Laying the original concrete surface for the indoor bowls hall proved more difficult than expected because of ground conditions. Concrete foundations 10 feet deep were found to be necessary to achieve the demanding flatness specification and ensure its stability over time. The result proved adequate for several years, but eventually (in year 2000) the concrete surface was overlaid with a wooden surface to bring it up to the newer, more demanding flatness standards. The original carpet had been replaced twice by year 2001, the surface at the time of writing (Pro-weave) being well liked by members.

Achievements in sport

Manor Park aims to encourage sport at all levels, from beginners upwards and in all categories including the disabled. Many members, perhaps the majority, have always preferred to play friendly, social games. For others there continue to be plenty of opportunities for competition, and Manor Park members have had considerable success at county and national level.

The new outdoor bowls pavilion, with a glimpse of The Paddock behind.

Bowls has been particularly successful. In 1974, a member of the Outdoor Bowls section, Alex Johnson, became the All England indoor singles championxxix. Another outdoor bowls member, Gill Lloyd, became the All England over-55 singles champion in 1993. Successful indoor bowls members included George Ridgeon, who played for England in the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in South Africa and Malaya. He was joined, more recently, by Mike Mackenzie who played for England in the Four Nations Paraplegic games in Cardiff in 2002.

The 1999/2000 season was one of the most successful in recent memory for the archers. Although comparatively few in number, they boasted 9 county and 3 regional squad members. Amongst many achievements, members won ladies and junior men's championships and were awarded a total of 30 gold trophies. Richard French became the national junior indoor under-12 champion and was picked to shoot for England twice in 2000, and again in 2001.

Archery at Manor Park

The Club was the focus of the prestigious Mercian Open Squash Tournament from 1968 to 1973, in association with Malvern Squash Rackets Club and Malvern College. This tournament attracted many of the world's best players, both from home and overseas. The first four winners were the English Internationals Mike Corby, Mike Thurgen, John Easter and Paul Millman. 

Squash at Manor Park

The tournament eventually moved to Stourbridge, which had more courts. The squash section itself has had some successes in the middle echelons of the county leagues, and recent successes in individual county events at junior level. The successes at junior level have owed much to the coaching efforts of squash section chairman John Oakley. The courts continue to be extensively used by local schools, particularly by The College (formerly Malvern College).

Manor Park tennis members Dick Guise and Jane Poynder played at Wimbledon in both singles and doubles, Dick in 1947, 1950 and 1951 and Jane in 1966 and 1967. Several of the younger tennis members have competed at Junior Wimbledon. Jane Poynder also played for England in the Home Internationals for both tennis (1966) and squash (1973). Janet McMoran, an earlier Junior Open Tournament winner, represented England in the Paraplegic Games in 1992, 1996 and 2000, reaching the singles semi-finals in 1992. In 1971 a Manor Park ladies team reached the semi finals of the first ever National Club Team championships; the team comprised Judy Davies, Jane Poynder, Elizabeth Evans and Val Brewer. More recently, Judy Davies and Sheila Brown reached the national semi finals of the 2002 Save The Children Open Ladies Doubles Tournament, which was played at Wimbledon. In 2004 Manor Park won the National Inter-Club Tournament and was declared LTA County Club of the year.

Manor Park became the official County Centre for tennis during the 1990s. By 2001 it had also been designated as an LTA Performance Club, receiving funding from the LTA to help with developing targeted young players. The Junior Open Tennis tournament, first initiated in 1923, continues as an annual event. At the time of writing Manor Park is the only Performance Club within the county. It is also one of 6 accredited Mini Tennis Clubs within the countyxxx. In 2001 the club benefited from being linked to the Cliff Richard Tennis Trail, visiting ten primary schools in the Malvern area. In 2002 the club received a grant from Sport England under the Awards for All Scheme to help the funding of continued visits to the local primary schools.

Much credit for the more recent achievements in tennis goes to the Poynder School of Squash and Tennis, the accredited professional coaching team within Manor Park. Jean Poynder, who founded the school in 1946, was the Great Britain Ladies Professional Champion for at least 3 years after the war, and one of the first women to become a professional coach. Daughter Jane Poynder, who was the WSRA National Coach from 1973 to 1990, heads the business at the time of writing.

Finance and Administration

All the developments since the 1980s were financed partly with a substantial bank loan - subsequently converted into a mortgage from Nationwide - and partly with a combination of grants and loans from professional bodies (the Sports and Arts Fund, The Sports Council, the Sport England Lottery fund and the Lawn Tennis Association) and from the Malvern Hills District Council - including the Council's 'Molly' lottery, as well as from members of Manor Park themselvesxxxii. The accumulated cost of these developments at year 2002 amounted to over £900,000, while the amount outstanding from all loans at one time rose to more than £250,000. However, all developments have proved successful, giving rise to the significantly increased membership and income streams forecast in the business plans. Income was further improved during this period by significant increases in the level of subscriptionsxxxiii. This helped to ensure adequate income for meeting loan repayments and for making better provision for current and future maintenance of facilities.

The tennis hall is unique, having been designed by Manor Park members, working under the dual constraints of a tight budget and of the location being within a conservation area. One of the pleasing features of the hall is the high level of natural lighting during the day. The indoor tennis enterprise has, from the beginning, been managed jointly with the County LTA and separately from Manor Park Club. An independent entity was created for this purpose and given the name Malvern and County Indoor Tennis (MACIT)xxxiv. MACIT is charged with managing all indoor tennis activities and finances, and with maintaining the tennis hall complex. MACIT is financed mainly by court fees and from membership fees paid by those who join MACIT separately. The MACIT management committee is chaired in alternate years by a member of Manor Park Club and an official of the County LTA; Club member MJS (Sam) Mackenzie and County LTA Treasurer John Reid have held the office up to the time of writing.

Care of the 10 acres of parkland has consumed significant resources throughout the history of Manor Park. In recent years maintenance of all aspects of grounds, including sports grass surfaces, has been subcontracted to a professional groundsman, supervised since the 80s by M.J.S (Sam) Mackenzie. The ancient oaks have required constant attention during this period, as indeed they have throughout the history of the Club. It was a great regret in 2002 to have to fell the massive, 250 year old oak at the corner of Albert Road North and Church St., which had become dangerously diseased.

According to Club member Keith Barnett, who is author of 'The Wild Flowers of the Malvern Hills', the flora of Manor Park is mostly unexceptional. However, the strip of woodland on north edge of the site is of botanical interest, containing a mixture of several species of native tree and smaller flowering plants. This strip is undoubtedly of considerable age and may even be a relic of the ancient woodland of Malvern Chase that has managed to survive since clear-felling began centuries ago. Although it is impossible to be precise, the sizable patches of bluebell, wood anemone, dog's mercury and garlic scented ramsons - all of which take a very long time to establish and so are known as 'ancient woodland indicators' - give a clear indication of the antiquity of the hedge. Such beautiful sites are now uncommon in the more built-up parts of Malvern.

The Club has benefited considerably in recent years from having developed closer relationships with the Malvern Hills District Council and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire LTA. MHDC provided a generous grantxxxv towards the cost of replacing the old shale courts and, in return, Manor Park agreed to implement tennis pay-and-play for non-members. MHDC also granted Manor Park 100% relief from business rates for several years. More recently Manor Park Club has also achieved Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) status and this carries with it mandatory minimum 80% rates relief under legislation introduced by the 2003 Labour Governmentxxxvi. For their part, the LTA funded the construction of the shell of the indoor tennis courts in return for reasonable free usage when needed.

Other legislation that has benefited Manor Park and many other sports clubs has been exemption from VAT on sports income and expenditure, introduced in the 1980s under a European Union directivexxxvii.

As from its inception, most of the administration of Manor Park affairs over the post war period has been carried out free of charge by volunteer members. Increasingly, however, as the centre has grown into a significant enterprisexxxviii and with the increasing burden of regulation (particularly on Health and Safety), it has become more and more difficult to find sufficient volunteers, particularly amongst the younger members. Fortunately, as the Club has grown so it has been possible to afford more professional help. Thus contractors have been introduced to provide bar and catering facilities and also for 'management services'. The most significant management services task has always been that of maintaining the central accounting records, and the first to carry out this function was L.E (Les) Thomas (who was also Club President for a period). More recently a General Manager was appointed to take over this task and to assist in Club development.

By the end of the 1990s the financial and membership records had been computerised and a website (www.manorparkmalvern.com) created. The website has, after a predictably slow start, become effective in bringing frequent contacts from prospective new, younger members.

Total membership of Manor Park Club and MACIT at the time of writing is about 1500xxxix.

In the last few years there has been a timely drive to recruit more Trustees, to a level more appropriate to the shared responsibility for the growing enterprise at Manor Park. At year 2002 there were 17 trustees, with Norman Rosser as Chairman.

The future

The aim of management and Trustees is to make the best possible used of Manor Park for sport in the area, and it therefore seems likely that development will continue into the foreseeable future, although perhaps at a somewhat slower pace than in recent years. Already completed in 2005, under chairman Allan Homfray, are expanded indoor bowls changing rooms and a new lounge area overlooking the tennis courts and with an unrivalled view of the Malvern Hillsxl. A new, more secure, groundsman's storeroom has also been installed to replace the 1930s wooden structure on the north side of the stream opposite the bowls hallxli.

Development of facilities for the existing sports will probably be confined to improvement, rather than expansion, of facilities, although one or more outdoor tennis courts may be covered. Membership numbers have increased dramatically in the last few years as the result of facility developments, but in a semi-rural area like the Malvern Hills District it is difficult to foresee this rate of increase continuing unless new sports are introduced. New synthetic surfaces will continue to be attractive for all sports as they become available. It may also be valuable to increase the range of activities on the tennis and squash courtsxlii. Manor Park probably has room for other sports facilities. There is some 'spare' land around the site, including an area of approximately 0.8 acres, known as The Paddock, adjacent to the railway line and south of the archery field; the paddock has been licensed for grazing to neighbours for many years.

There has not, in recent years, been any membership selection procedure that could conceivable justify applying the term 'elitist' to Manor Park. Membership is open to all.