Once our standard had reached passable we all joined South Shore Lawn Tennis Club Badminton Club, quite a mouthful.
The Club played Sunday and Wednesday Nights in the Metal Building, conveniently adjacent to the Tennis Clubhouse.
It was used for Indoor Tennis but we could roll out two or three Badminton Courts.
For the next 40 years or so Badminton played a big part in all our lives, albeit at different levels, with Marjorie and I content with Club Level. But then we were probably aged 35+ when we started.
Badminton
At South Shore Lawn Tennis Club, Stanley Club & Fleetwood
Extracts from Chapter 19 of 'Our Lives' Book: 1976-1990
For something to do on wet days we had now, as a family, started to try to play badminton, starting from scratch. The Albany Centre at St Annes was an early and favourite centre.
At first it appeared that the children would never get the hang of it, but slowly we managed to get a rally going, and, of course, it wasn't long before they overtook us.
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Susan won the U12 Blackpool Schools Doubles Trophy with friend Louise Ascroft.
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I think that Marjorie and I made some attempt to improve by attending a Night School Class at Highfield School.
Little did we know what a large part Badminton was to play in our lives.
Both Andrew and David were to go on and win Lancashire Inter School Trophies at Under 12 and Under 14 levels.​
Son David won Lancashire U12 Badminton Singles Trophy as well as award for 'most improved' Lancashire U12 Player of the Year
Son Andy, with Julia Torrence won Lancashire U14s Badminton Mixed Doubles Trophy January 1982
As they improved, Andrew and David moved to a club with a much higher standard, being Fleetwood. They eventually helped that club win the Blackpool and Fylde League Premier Division for something like 15 times in a row!!!
They also progressed to represent Lancashire, and, eventually, Lancashire Veterans. Both also represented Blackpool Town Team over many years, and won numerous cups and trophies from competitions all over the North West, and further afield.
David won Lancashire Schools Singles and Doubles (Doubles with Travis Holdgate)
At SSLTC members included the Ascrofts, Hills, Fords, Smarts, Pringles, Pembertons, Holts, Speakmans, Hutchinsons, Mills, Wades, Greys, Thompsons, Meakins, Hazel Shaw, Paul Marshall, Wendy Rutter, John Burslem, Andy Moreton, Mike Mitchell, Irene Rawcliffe, John Coleman, John Scott, Paul Linney, Jonnie Walker, Stewart Peat, Gareth Jones and Steve Canavan.
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I acted as Chairman for many years as well as Treasurer and Secretary and, if we needed one, President.
I collected the annual and weekly subscriptions, sorted venues and shuttles, and organised other activities such as the Xmas Party, Fun Competitions, Walking and Camping trips to the Lake District etc.​
En-route to Doe Crag, Consiston with members of SSLTC
Marjorie and myself played with SSLTC for many years, before Marjorie also moved to Fleetwood. Here, one of her partners was the sister of Alfi Boe, a Nationally recognised singer.
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Penny vividly remembers playing as a partner to Mum and losing 15-14 after being about 14-2 up!!!
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After some years the Tennis Club required their Indoor Facility back for more Tennis use, so we changed our Club Name to “Stanley”, and moved to other venues, which included Lytham School, Stanley Park, Arnold School, Blackpool 6th Form Centre and Bispham Tech. The club is still going in 2022.
Son Andrew, Geraldine and Paul Pringle, Louise Ascroft, Jonnie Walker & Hazel Shaw
Paul Marshall, Steve Canavan, Paul Linney, June Shaw and Wendy Rutter