Noah Gargano, (right), 12, came to our club last weekend for the LTA Grade 5 Boys U14 tournament run by Jimmy Smith. Noah, who lives in Henfield, and plays tennis at The Weald, is an excellent young player, and he won the ‘consolation’, so LWWW. Not bad at all, playing against the best young players in Sussex.

It’s the name ‘Gargano’ which may ring some bells among our senior members at QPTC. Noah had never played at Queens Park Tennis Club before, but it turns out his dad Dean Gargano (left) first learnt to play tennis on these very courts back in the 1980s. He has fond memories of his time at the club, and was happy for an opportunity to return, with his son, to the courts where he grew up.

“My mother Diana was a coach here,” says Dean. “We lived in Hove but I spent almost all my spare time here at Queens Park Tennis Club. They were shale courts back on those days. I played Parks League, and Parks Cup, alongside people like Mick O’Brian, Richard Nutbeam, Michael Hayes, Andrew Paterson, Lorraine Paterson, Oliver Smyth, Anna Atkins, and Denise (Smith?). Terry and Chris Curtis were also important figures at the club at those times.

“I even went on the club ‘exchange’ match to Paris. We had a pairing with a club in France and would play them home and away. I was in the team that went over to play at Draveil club, near Orly. Great fun.”

Draveil is still there, and – thankfully – so is Queens Park Tennis Club. Welcome back Dean!