*/
Wimbledon fever? The Bar’s very own Grand Slam serves up both tennis and camaraderie
If you’re keen to mingle with the profession and tennis is your game, why not join the Bar Lawn Tennis Society? When I was first called to the Bar I decided to investigate, as I had been on the lawn tennis teams at school, enjoyed playing tennis with friends in the holidays and picked tennis up again after university, playing before and after work most days.
The Hon Secretary welcomed me warmly but explained most of the fixtures held were in the south. I was based in the north but as the subscription was only £10 a year (now £20) and the Society offered a Wimbledon ballot, I joined.
When I later moved to London to take up a job as a law reporter, the first event I attended was the AGM, which happily doubled up as a drinks party. As a member of under five years’ call, I was invited to play in the Sachs Cup, which is the round robin tournament for newcomers to the Bar. This was held in Twickenham where drinks and lunch were provided afterwards by the first ever Vice-President, Helen, Lady Broughton, at her flat.
The tournament is now held at Cadogan Place in Knightsbridge and is open to members of up to 12 years’ call. Helen, Lady Broughton continues to present the Tankard and kindly provides drinks and lunch afterwards, proving that the Society is about much more than just tennis.
The Society was founded in the 1950s by Lord Dunboyne, an Old Bailey judge who played tennis to a very high standard. Our tennis season starts in May and there are matches and tournaments in the Fixture List to suit different levels of play. These are held mainly at weekends, at some of the best tennis clubs and other venues with courts.
The strongest players tend to enter the international fixtures such as the Common Law Cup, a triangular match between teams from three common law jurisdictions: the English Bar, the US Bar and the Irish Bar. The Society hosted this last year, in the splendid setting of Moor Park in Rickmansworth where the English team celebrated its victory at the dinner afterwards in the Orangery, to which the visiting teams and all members were invited. Lord Mance, the Society’s President, was awarded the Common Law Cup, which honours members of the legal profession in common law countries who have combined an extraordinary legal career with outstanding achievements in, and contributions to, tennis.
I find my role on the Committee as the Hon Match Secretary complements my career in legal publishing very well. There is even scope to exercise some advocacy by making representations at meetings. The Society has provided an outlet for some of my other interests such as design, by commissioning me to create a new tie for the men in the Society. I am now working on a brooch design for our lady members.
I play doubles most weekends with a group of people of a similar standard and enter, organise and manage some of the Society’s matches and tournaments in the summer. George Laurence QC and I are the current holders of the Lawton Trophy, awarded to the winners of the Bar Open Doubles tournament, which was established in 1976 by the then President of the Society, Lord Justice Lawton.
Georgina Orde is a law reporter at the ICLR and Hon Match Secretary of the Bar Lawn Tennis Society. If you are interested in joining the Bar Lawn Tennis Society please contact the Hon Secretary Alex Perry at: APerry@harcourtchambers.co.uk.
If you’re keen to mingle with the profession and tennis is your game, why not join the Bar Lawn Tennis Society? When I was first called to the Bar I decided to investigate, as I had been on the lawn tennis teams at school, enjoyed playing tennis with friends in the holidays and picked tennis up again after university, playing before and after work most days.
The Hon Secretary welcomed me warmly but explained most of the fixtures held were in the south. I was based in the north but as the subscription was only £10 a year (now £20) and the Society offered a Wimbledon ballot, I joined.
When I later moved to London to take up a job as a law reporter, the first event I attended was the AGM, which happily doubled up as a drinks party. As a member of under five years’ call, I was invited to play in the Sachs Cup, which is the round robin tournament for newcomers to the Bar. This was held in Twickenham where drinks and lunch were provided afterwards by the first ever Vice-President, Helen, Lady Broughton, at her flat.
The tournament is now held at Cadogan Place in Knightsbridge and is open to members of up to 12 years’ call. Helen, Lady Broughton continues to present the Tankard and kindly provides drinks and lunch afterwards, proving that the Society is about much more than just tennis.
The Society was founded in the 1950s by Lord Dunboyne, an Old Bailey judge who played tennis to a very high standard. Our tennis season starts in May and there are matches and tournaments in the Fixture List to suit different levels of play. These are held mainly at weekends, at some of the best tennis clubs and other venues with courts.
The strongest players tend to enter the international fixtures such as the Common Law Cup, a triangular match between teams from three common law jurisdictions: the English Bar, the US Bar and the Irish Bar. The Society hosted this last year, in the splendid setting of Moor Park in Rickmansworth where the English team celebrated its victory at the dinner afterwards in the Orangery, to which the visiting teams and all members were invited. Lord Mance, the Society’s President, was awarded the Common Law Cup, which honours members of the legal profession in common law countries who have combined an extraordinary legal career with outstanding achievements in, and contributions to, tennis.
I find my role on the Committee as the Hon Match Secretary complements my career in legal publishing very well. There is even scope to exercise some advocacy by making representations at meetings. The Society has provided an outlet for some of my other interests such as design, by commissioning me to create a new tie for the men in the Society. I am now working on a brooch design for our lady members.
I play doubles most weekends with a group of people of a similar standard and enter, organise and manage some of the Society’s matches and tournaments in the summer. George Laurence QC and I are the current holders of the Lawton Trophy, awarded to the winners of the Bar Open Doubles tournament, which was established in 1976 by the then President of the Society, Lord Justice Lawton.
Georgina Orde is a law reporter at the ICLR and Hon Match Secretary of the Bar Lawn Tennis Society. If you are interested in joining the Bar Lawn Tennis Society please contact the Hon Secretary Alex Perry at: APerry@harcourtchambers.co.uk.
The Chair of the Bar sets out how the new government can restore the justice system
In the first of a new series, Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth considers the fundamental need for financial protection
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Possibly, but many barristers are glad he did…
Mental health charity Mind BWW has received a £500 donation from drug, alcohol and DNA testing laboratory, AlphaBiolabs as part of its Giving Back campaign
The Institute of Neurotechnology & Law is thrilled to announce its inaugural essay competition
How to navigate open source evidence in an era of deepfakes. By Professor Yvonne McDermott Rees and Professor Alexa Koenig
Brie Stevens-Hoare KC and Lyndsey de Mestre KC take a look at the difficulties women encounter during the menopause, and offer some practical tips for individuals and chambers to make things easier
Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice since January 2021, is well known for his passion for access to justice and all things digital. Perhaps less widely known is the driven personality and wanderlust that lies behind this, as Anthony Inglese CB discovers
The Chair of the Bar sets out how the new government can restore the justice system
No-one should have to live in sub-standard accommodation, says Antony Hodari Solicitors. We are tackling the problem of bad housing with a two-pronged approach and act on behalf of tenants in both the civil and criminal courts
-(1)-(002).tmb-carlisting.png?sfvrsn=7615eba7_1){kind=logo}
