Written by Robert McGowan In the year that President Kennedy was inaugurated,Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space and the Berlin Wall was built, Beaconsfield School of Lawn Tennis opened for business. The founder, Sue Livingston, was a tennis pioneer of her day, and sought to introduce new ideas into UK tennis coaching that she had learned while on her travels, in particular to Australia, which throughout the 1950's and 1960's was the global powerhouse of World tennis. Apart from matters of tennis technique and matchplay, these ideas also included complementary fitness coaching. So what was tennis like in 1961. For a start, everyone used wooden racquets, tennis balls were white, ![]() Since that time, BSLT has continued to flourish with courses developed for the absolute beginner through to top quality juniors and adults. Godwin has helped a number of young players achieve sports scholarships, the most recent being Andrew Johnson who is rapidly approaching the end of his first degree course in Florida. Andrew says: “BSLT and Godwin Johnson's influence as my tennis coach have undoubtedly had a positive impact on my life. Rather than studying in the UK, I sought a tennis scholarship in the USA in addition to furthering my education. Four years on, I have no regrets and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience involved in obtaining a degree and playing tennis at Rollins College in Florida. It is an experience that would have been unattainable without Godwin and BSLT and one which I would encourage to any prospective juniors.” Now in 2011, and fifty years later, BSLT is in a further period of change as it seeks to build on the acquisition of Beaconsfield LTC. Over the next few years, it is Godwin's ambition to improve the overall tennis experience at the Oval which will be to the benefit of the whole tennis playing community. We wish Godwin and BSLT well as it develops further over the next 50 years. |
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