The Sporting Life

Sports memories from The Francis Frith Collection

- 

Crookes Valley Park, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

(Photograph taken around 1955)

This photograph brought instant memories of when, as a teenager, I regularly walked with friends, Barry, George, Eric, and others, from Portland Street (near the Royal Infirmary) to Crookes Valley Park. There we hired racquets and balls for an hour and played tennis on the court to the right of the bowling green shown in the photograph.We were “the Young Ones”, full of energy and careering around the court, while the old guys played bowls close by, and the park keepers made sure we didn't get out of hand. Now I'm one of the old guys, but the memories come back afresh on seeing this photograph.

Grange and Links Hotel, Sandilands, Lincolnshire

(Photograph taken around 1955)

Every July, the houses with tennis courts in the garden hosted a tournament. I remember turning up one year, full of enthusiasm, only to be thoroughly beaten by a chap who had been playing in a tournament in Vienna the year before. I enjoyed the dance afterwards at the Grange and Links though.

Philip Oldershaw

The Common, Dinas Powis, South Glamorgan

(Photograph taken around 1965)