A Reminiscence - Mr Harris Rea

A Reminiscence - Mr Harris Rea

Mr Harris Rea’s earliest recollection of a tennis club in Banbridge goes back to 1925 when he first arrived in the town. There was one court behind Osbourne Gardens, beside the Technical College (Castlewellan Road) in a field owned by Fred Crothers. The members were made up of Mr Ted Crothers (the bank manager at that time), Mr Dickson, Mrs Harris Rea and some of the banking staff. Even then the one court was kept in order by Tommy Mackin, a real character in himself, who used to pull a heavy roller up and down the green.
The Club was reformed in 1956, following the war years and in its short history has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of the founder members of the Mid-Ulster League and a constant provider of both inter-county and Ulster players.