Tennis Court behind Barnfield Road

Can you identify the players in a 1954 cutting?

By Julius Bertram

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'Tennis Court behind Barnfield Road' page

LHS archives

Has anyone got a photo of the tennis court that was at the back of Barnfield Road?  The entrance was at the top of Rowan Way.

Ed. We have added an extract from a 1924 OS map showing the site of tennis court.

We are still looking for photos, but meanwhile have found an account of the fire which destroyed the pavillion.

And 18 months later, in March 2013, David Waller has sent us a photo of the young players at Barnfield Tennis Club in 1954. Can you identify any of the players?

Photo:Barnfield Tennis Club - 1954

Barnfield Tennis Club - 1954

David Waller - Harpenden Free Press cutting

This page was added by Julius Bertram on 19/06/2018.
Comments about this page

The Cobra Club considered acquiring this club at some time in the 1950's when seemingly a buyer was being sought. On the advice of somebody's father who was a chartered accountant the project was (wisely) abandoned. The Cobra Club did not have the proper infrastructure at that time and tended to take parents' advice on such matters.

By John Wyborn
On 15/10/2013

The girl kneeling on the extreme left in the the second row looks to me like Yvonne YOST who went to St. Dominic's and then St. Alban's Grammar.

By Sandra
On 05/11/2013

Yes. I'm sure that is Yvonne Yost. Her older sister Joan is in the front row, right. Next to Joan, the young lad is Harry Ottaway, who lived in Barnfield Road. His older brother Freddie was also a member, though I think he was more into table tennis, which was played up to County standard at Barnfield. The ground and pavilion were on land owned by the building firm of Fowler. One of the firm, Leslie Fowler, was a great table tennis player. He was also Chairman of Harpenden Urban Council in the 1950s. More names to come.

By John Seabrook
On 21/01/2014

The boy on the right in the back row is my late cousin Michael Evans, who lived in Barnfield Road. Also on the back row wearing a dark suit is another of my cousins, Tony Hawkins, who lived in Lyndhurst Drive. We were members of the large family of Andrews who came from Piggotshill.

By Rita Chapman (nee Andrews)
On 18/02/2014

3rd from the right in the 2nd row is Anne Smith from Piggots Hill Lane.  I know most of the faces but after 60 years............

By Roger Clark
On 26/05/2015

Michael Evans was my next door neighbour in Barnfield Road. My name then was Ronald Wheeler. 

By Julius Bertram
On 26/06/2018
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