A Family History of the Illustrious, Notorious and Eccentric Lloyds of Birmingham, Brigstock and Pipewell Hall - Flipbook - Page 62
s on the two good grass courts near the hall was a regular feature of weekends during the summer
hs when good players were invited in from all over the county, like Pink Cazenove from
sbrooke, whose gingery hair I well remember as a child.
Mike Lloyd apparently started playing tennis at Pipewell at such an early age, that he was hardly as
the net, but early on developed the makings of his brilliance at the net which took him on to win a
many tournaments, and to play at Wimbledon. I was very lucky to be invited to partner him in
p 1, County Week, at Eastbourne, just after I had left Oxford.
years earlier several members of the Lloyd Family had been playing in a tennis tournament at
ourne, all staying at The Grand Hotel. The Lloyds found that the old wide Victorian hotel corridors
he perfect width for wheel-chair racing (like Roman Chariots), till one day they swept round a
r at full tilt, lifting the General Manager off his feet. They had to find new accommodation for the
the tournament and were banned from the hotel for life!
Collins and Uncle Mike used to play together in the Northamptonshire home matches at summer
nds against other counties. These were played on the excellent grass courts at St Andrews Lunatic
m (as mental hospitals were called in those days). On one occasion when they were match point up
r match, a formidable looking lady flung open the first floor window above the court and shouted,
Mrs Marsh of Melton Mowbray, it's your birthday today. Go to Fortnum and Masons and buy
elf a present on my account. Spare no expense!" They were so distracted by this intervention that
ost the game and set, only just regaining their focus in time to win their match.
played regularly for the Northamptonshire Ladies team, but was never good enough to aspire to
g at Wimbledon. She did once partner Billy in the mixed doubles at the pre Wimbledon Queens
Tournament where they had to play the great Bill Tilden and his partner, the top seeds, on a very
ry grass court. To begin with Tilden was bamboozled by her sliced underarm serve which hardly
t all from the wet grass, but when he at last mastered it, he and his partner won the match.
nd Pierre used to rent a flat in London for several weeks at the end of May, June and early July for
l years in the late 20s, early 30s, when Billy and Ian were both working in the Collins London
in the mornings, and playing in the Beckenham, Queens and Wimbledon Championships in the
oons. Ian and his mixed doubles partner, Gwen Rowallan, often stayed in the flat too. Deborah, Jan
ark were all born in London during those weeks.
