1910-1925 Stormont Lawn Tennis Club was established in Stormont Road, Highgate. This was a period of extensive property development in the area and enthusiasm for tennis. It is thought that the Club was initially named Highgate Tennis Club, but as there were several other clubs similarly named in the vicinity, the Club adopted the name of its road.
No Club tournaments were held during the First World War.
1926-1939 In early 1926 the Club moved to “… a piece of rough timbered uneven ground” in Lanchester Road, Highgate, a private road. Three grass tennis courts and a small wooden pavilion were built. There was a playing membership of around 60.
The grass courts could only usually be used between May and September.
In 1932 Lanchester Road was adopted by the Borough of Hornsey. Improvements were made to the Club’s facilities. A water supply was added in 1932 and electricity in 1935.
The grass courts were replaced by hard courts in about 1935. Regular fund raising and social activities took place.
1939-1945 The outbreak of the Second World War restricted the Club’s activities. No Club tournaments were held.
1946-1960 The first post-war Finals Day was held in 1946 and they have been held annually thereafter. In 1950 a 21 year lease of an enlarged site was obtained. The Club then built a fourth tennis court on this additional land. A Junior Section became well established during this period with coaching usually available during the school holidays. In 1955 the courts were dug up and re-laid and a new junior pavilion was erected. There were three main courts together with the 4th court and a practice wall.
At the 1959 AGM it was apparent that the Club was in financial difficulties. The Club’s 50th birthday was noted as being on 10th May 1960.
1960-1970 Between 1960 and 1970 adult membership numbers continued to fall and the condition of the courts deteriorated.
In November 1970 the Chairman stated that the Club was no longer financially viable. At an Extraordinary AGM on 16 December 1970 members and residents of the area agreed that they wanted the Club saved and provided financial support to keep it running while a way could be investigated to see if it could be saved.
1971-1975 Members of a local family, who were active in the Club, were instrumental in ensuring its survival. The owner of the freehold of the land leased to the Club agreed to sell the land to the Club. The sale took place on 15th September 1972. The purchase was financed by selling off part of the land to a developer on which a block of retirement flats was eventually built.
The sale also gave the Club sufficient funds to build the squash courts as well as a new pavilion and changing rooms. Haringey Council rejected a plan for three tennis courts but accepted a revised plan with just two tennis courts and the squash court complex.
On 1st June 1974 the Stormont Lawn Tennis & Squash Rackets Club was officially opened by the Mayor of Haringey with exhibition tennis and squash matches. A new era began.
Men’s and Ladies’ and Junior teams thrived. Membership grew to the point that the Club had a waiting list and the Club was financially sound. The emphasis was on keeping the Club a local hub in accordance with its motto, ‘your friendly neighbourhood tennis and squash club’.
1975 – 1993 Stormont continued to be a successful squash Club as well as a thriving tennis Club attracting both junior and senior players mainly from the local area. Social events included the Finals Day Barbecue and the Junior Finals and Barbecue.
In 1976 a St Valentine’s Ball at Lords Banqueting Suite was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club in Lanchester Road.
In the late 1980s a new family membership category was introduced which proved popular, and a membership campaign was instigated which included an open evening for tennis and squash.
One of the problems with the development approved by Haringey in 1972 was that there were only two tennis courts. To play tennis matches in the Summer Middlesex League, three courts were needed. Various short term options were adopted, which included booking the St Luke’s Hospital court in Woodside Avenue, which was owned by a local health authority.
1993 – 2002
There was continued enthusiastic participation in Middlesex tennis and squash leagues.
In 1999 the kitchen was redesigned creating an open plan kitchen and bar area.
A proposal for floodlighting the two tennis courts was eventually agreed in 2001.
The continuing need for a third tennis court led to the Committee negotiating a licence to use St Luke’s tennis court on a regular basis. In March 2002 the Club agreed to resurface the court, renew the exterior fencing, repair the court netting, and contact Haringey Council about tree roots.
In May 2002 tokens for paying for squash courts and floodlights were replaced by coins.
There were 97 senior members and 116 junior members.
2003 – 2011
The inaugural meeting of the Stormont Reading Group took place on Thursday 20 November 2003 at 8pm at Stormont. It usually meets once a month and continues to this day.
A monthly Friday evening bridge session for members started in 2011 and continued until 13th March 2020 when the COVID lockdown prevented such gatherings.
2011 – 2021
Work had continued through 2011 to improve the facilities at Stormont. The tennis courts were repainted and a binder added to preserve the surface. The squash courts were patched and repainted and a new ladies changing room created.
In June 2011 Camden and Islington Health authority announced its decision to sell the St Luke’s hospital site, including the tennis court, for redevelopment. Fortunately, in 2012 the Club was able to secure the partial use of the St Luke’s court from the purchaser, Hanover Housing Association, which generously helped finance its resurfacing.
In 2013 the Committee decided to promote squash actively inside and outside the club through local schools. With input from Middlesex SRA sessions were offered to female and male players with a wide range of ages and abilities.
April 2017 saw a major innovation with the introduction of a new online booking system replacing the old paper calendar and stamp system.
In 2018 discussions started about securing the long term future of the Club’s use of the St Luke’s tennis court. Improvements to the court were deferred until these arrangements were finalised.
On 23rd March 2020 Covid stopped play on both the tennis and the squash courts and lock-downs continued to operate at various times for the rest of 2020 and in 2021. Once the tennis courts reopened, Stormont membership rose dramatically as it was one of relatively few permitted sports whilst Covid was still a threat. It took longer for the squash courts to be allowed to reopen, and demand for the sport has taken a time to recover.
2022-2024
By April 2022 play had been possible for the last 6 months without the stops and starts of the previous 18 months.
Floodlight fees for the tennis courts and squash court fees for heating increased in October 2022 to reflect the quadrupling of electricity and gas prices.
In 2023-2024 the Club experimented with a low cost squash-only category of membership. The Club also improved the facilities in various ways including introduction of digital payment systems for the courts and bar and repair and repainting of the exterior of the clubhouse and the squash courts.
In April 2024, after lengthy negotiations with both the London Borough of Haringey and the St Luke’s freeholder, now renamed Anchor Hanover Group, the Club acquired a long lease of the St Luke’s tennis court in Woodside Avenue. After more than 50 years, the Club once again has the secure use of three tennis courts.
As of today, the Club has been rebranded as Stormont Tennis and Squash Club; St Luke’s has been resurfaced and further improvements in all facilities are planned; and the Club continues in robust financial condition with a membership approaching 400.
Anne Ruff
September 2024