1800s
A tennis club already existed in Bude on the grass courts on Summerleaze Downs in the 1800s as this photo from 1899 shows. The Budehaven Recreation Ground was built in 1923 and our club was formed at this venue shortly after and called the Budehaven Tennis Club.
1920s
There is evidence that the new club was in existence in 1928 with a compliment of 49 members. The A.G.M. of 1930 records a membership of 43 and a financial balance of £4.10s.6p.
1930s
In 1935 the annual subscription was 15s (75p) - if only we could keep to this! The first junior club for 8-15 year olds was also started that year.
1940s
In 1946 the club resumed play after a five year break during World War II.
1980s
New all weather courts replaced the old red shale courts in 1987 causing a local slump in the sale of shoe whitener!
In 1988 a “100” club was started to raise funds and a sports festival held. Sue Barker took part holding coaching clinics and played an exhibition match against Mike Keat the Club Champion. We have no record of the winner and Mike is exercising his right to remain silent!
1990s
The new club house was opened in 1990 by Peggy Tregaskes a former member and in 1994 new floodlights were erected on 3 courts.
In June 1993 tennis was literally a wash out when the floods came to Bude.
In 1997 Mike Keat became Club Champion for the 40th consecutive year achieving immortality with an entry in the Guinness Book of Records!
2000s
A new junior court incorporating mini courts was constructed in 2002 allowing for a new mini junior section for under 8s. With the additional 48 mini members, Junior membership reached a record 127.
2002 was also one of the most successful seasons in the leagues with the men’s A team winning the County League for the first time and our mixed team winning the prestigious North Devon Houldsworth Cup.
2010s
In 2010 the club was renamed Bude Tennis Club dropping the “Budehaven” to avoid confusion with Budehaven School.
In 2015 the Bude A Team met the Bude B Team in the final of the Houldsworth Cup - a win-win situation!
2020s
Sadly in 2019 coronavirus was afflicted upon the world. All sports were suspended whilst the nation struggled to contain the pandemic. Finding creative ways to stay active and practise within government guidelines, we continued to work towards our reopening in the summer of 2020 and have since welcomed a number of new members.
In the summer of 2022, one of our members became a Wimbledon champion! When our record-breaking Mike Keat won the British Closed Grasscourt Over 80 Doubles Championship.
Late winter and spring of 2023 was an exciting time for the club with a successful fundraising campaign seeing the installation of new, bright and energy efficient floodlights replacing the old lights on courts 2 and 3 as well as the club taking part in an Open Day celebrating BHRG’s centenary with the club playing at the venue for at least 95 of those years.