Ask people in Cheltenham where Leckhampton Lawn Tennis Club is and there is a very good chance that they won’t know. Ask people who live in Leckhampton where Leckhampton Lawn Tennis Club is and it is a fair guess that a lot of them will also shake their head.

That’s because the clubhouse and two grass tennis courts – possibly the last remaining all-grass tennis club in Gloucestershire - are tucked away out of sight behind a hedge at Burrows playing field.

The official address of this hidden gem is Moorend Grove, Leckhampton GL53 OEZ and the people living within a Pete Sampras serve and volley of the courts as well as the keen gardeners on the allotments close by may be the only locals who know of their existence.

However, the more observant in the area will have noticed a lot more activity behind the hedge at the playing field now that summer has arrived (of sorts!).

“We play competitive and social tennis,” said club secretary Dave Hughston of the 30-member club. “We play in the Gloucestershire Summer Tennis League and both our men’s and ladies’ teams gained promotion last season.”

“Unfortunately, our two best players in the men’s team have gone travelling for a year so we are taking a break from men’s league tennis rather than field an uncompetitive team. But we hope to be back in the league at full strength next year.”

It’s better news for the ladies under the captaincy of Barbara Pettit, however, as they take up the challenge of playing in Division 3a against much bigger clubs such as Cirencester and Painswick.

“We play from May all the way through to September and even into October if the weather allows,” said Dave. “And the great thing about playing on grass is that it is easier on the knees and ankles than playing on hard courts.”

“One of the drawbacks for a club like us is that you can’t play in the winter which means we do lose some players who want to play all the year around.”

The club - like pretty much all sports clubs - are on the lookout for new players.

However, they have an additional mission in that they are trying to find out more about the history of the club.

Dave told The Local Answer: ”Leckhampton Lawn Tennis Club has been here for at least 80 years, perhaps as long as 100 years.

“Our club archives go back to the 1930s but we are aware that grass courts existed on the site in the 1920s and some say even before that.

“If any readers can throw further light onto the history of the Moorend Grove tennis courts we would be delighted to hear from them.”

Dave, who lives in Leckhampton, joined the club five years ago with his wife Steph.

He moved to Gloucestershire some 10 years ago and added: “We’d have joined the club five years earlier if we’d known about it. We just stumbled upon it one day when out walking!”

The 55-year-old played the sport when he was younger but gave it up for 20 years for work and family reasons. Now he’s delighted to be back playing.

“It’s really good fun,” he said. “I was okay back in the day and I’m getting back to that standard now.”

Dave and Steph will be centre stage when the club hold their open day on Saturday 10th June (11am-5pm) when prospective members will be told that the club organises social tennis sessions on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6pm and on Saturdays from 2pm.

Any readers interested in joining Leckhampton Lawn Tennis Club or who may have information about the history of the club should contact Dave Hughston at tennis@talktalk.net.