The earliest information about the  tennis club suggests that it was originally called South Boldon Lawn Tennis Club. The following information was found researching " A History of Boldon Lawn Tennis Club" written by Roma Garbutt.

Thanks to the diary of Mrs J.B. Forster whom, with her husband Jack, lived at Orchard Cottage, Dipe Lane, South Boldon.

Friday June 1885 " After our court was laid down and paid for by ourselves, a few friends from Sunderland came out for play, left their racquets at our cottage and had there tea there and our Boldon friends joined us ...."And in July " Jack (my good man ) made a marker which answered very well," Then in February 1886 " Decided to form a club; members subscription (2/6) to go far an additional court."

The club began with John R. Forster as Captain pro tem, Miss Amy Denton as Hon. Secretary pro tem and Miss Fanny Robson as Hon. Treasurer pro tem and, as the prospectus shows, a list of 26 proposed members. Apart from the suggestion of snobbery in the "proposed list " it is interesting to note that both ladies and gentlemen were to pay the same subscription and that a lady was  secretary.

In March 1886 (the diary continues) " Jack busy converting a piano case into a seat for our tennis ground. George Denton  (Amy,s father ) also provided a seat. 1st May 1886 " The Lawn Tennis Club met today for the first time. We had a game with Dr. Campbell and his wife. The doctor plays very well."  Then, later in May: " The fees were raised: 10/6 for a new member, 7/6 for gentlemen, 5/- for ladies. Jack appointed Secretary and Mr. James Robson of Lambtons Bank Sunderland, Treasurer."

The club was now constituted with C.T. Thubron as President  and J.B. Forster, T. Bulmer, Mr Moncrieff and Dr. Campbell as the Committee. The other members of the club were: Mr and Mrs J.G. Addison, Misses. E,Bailey, A. Blackwood, F.L.Blackwood, Mrs T.R.Bulmer, Mr Brockhill. and Miss Moncrieff, Misses Pearson and Peart, Mr. J. Priestman, Mr. Procter, Sep. Robson, Miss Robson, Misses E. and B. Thubron, Miss Walker, Mrs Walton and Mr Ward.

and H. Brockhill, Dr. and Mrs.A.J. Campbell, Miss Campbell,  H. Clark and Mr. Colling, N.Davies, A.E. Denton and Miss Denton, Mrs. J.B.Forster, Mr. Grant, Misses Grant and Johnson, F.N. Laws, and Miss Merriman, Mr. Mrs . and Miss Moncrieff, Misses Pearson and Peart, Mr. J. Priestman, Mr. Procter, Sep. Robson, Miss Robson, Misses E. and B. Thubron, Miss Walker, Mrs Walton and Mr Ward.
On 26th July 1886, the club, having aquired its second court ( at a cost of £4 19s 4d ) played its first match. this was against Washington and Usworth Club at Boldon; a mixed match which Boldon lost by 54 games to 95 ( the Boldon gentlemen won all their games ). Mrs Forster,s diary adds: " Tea was served in the ground in a tent manufactured out of the sail of a ship." (This was the origin of the Saturday Teas, which were described in the 1930,s as " a jolly asset " to the club and which certainly helped to create a friendly family atmosphere on Saturday afternoons - but which have often been a headache to the lady members because of the uncertainty about numbers and weather.)
More to follow........

The Thubron connection spans well over 100 years of the clubs history. C.T.Thubron was the first President of the Club in 1886 and Club Captain in 1905.  In 1904, with miss Scott, he won the mixed doubles. His daughters, Effie and Bertha, were also founder members of the club ; Bertha was the 1st Ladies Champion and in 1888 and again ( as Mrs Clazy ) in 1904 and 1905. His son, R.S.Thubron was Honorary Secretary of the club in 1916 and 1917 and Captain in 1918 ; he was Gentlemens Champion in 1904 and 1905 and with G. Newton, won the Gentlemen,s Doubles in 1904. R.S. Thubrons son, Bryan, monopolised the Gentlemen,s Open Singles from 1947 - 1969 and in the course of an illustrious career picked up every other title available to him and in the 1950,s  frequently almost "swept the board. "   In addition to all this and team tennis, Bryan has been Treasurer of the club since 1959, covering an era of very high finance for the club.
Well done Bryan