About Martin Dene LTC

The avid tennis players of the Grove Tennis Club, formed in 1906 in Sydney Road, Bexleyheath, were warned in 1934 that the existence of their club on its current site would shortly be ending due to the rapid expansion of housing development in Bexley. 

A search by the members of the club for new land proved fruitful when a site at Martin Dene, itself being developed for new housing, was discovered. The new location provided access north to Bellevue Road and south onto Martin Dene itself. Three hard tennis courts were laid out (a break from the tradition of grass at the Grove Tennis Club- and which have remained, many times resurfaced, ever since), a clubhouse constructed, and the new club officially opened on the 4th May 1935- Martin Dene LTC

The founding members quickly built a successful, fun and friendly club. Matches against local opposition were organised as far back as the club’s founding year, and a strong social calendar was established from this period. Over the years, the original clubhouse became in need of replacement, and thanks to the sterling efforts of the members, a new pavilion was erected in 1971 and opened in front of an audience of over 200 members past and present. 

The 1971 clubhouse stands to this day, with the one significant alteration being the construction of the bar in 1973. The club has often been rated as ‘punching above its weight’ for a three-court club, exemplified by the competitive trophies Martin Dene has won over the years. The club was first affiliated to the Kent LTA in 1949 and has competed in Kent competitions since 1961. 

The club also affiliated with the North Kent LTA in 1949, competing in their leagues ever since. In the subsequent period, Martin Dene has claimed approximately 150 trophies across the two associations’ competitions.

Whilst the club remained very much a social arena, some players over the decades distinguished themselves as champions of legendary status. 

Ian Milligan in particular maintained an iron grip on club championship titles throughout the 80s and 90s, collecting 11 men’s singles crowns alone. Supreme champion on the ladies' side was Eileen Fenn, who collected 10 singles titles between 1949-60. 

The early 1990s also saw the arrival of local junior prodigy Paul Ryan, whose talents saw him far outgrow the confines of North Kent tennis and achieve great success on tour in the U.S.

In terms of the honorary positions at Martin Dene, founding member Dick Butler served as the first President until 1979, before the reins were taken up by Eric Milton. Eric’s death in 1985 saw him replaced by founding member Frank Dowling who served until he passed away in 1997, before being replaced by Joan Milton who would serve long into the next century.

Day to day matters have always been handled by the club’s elected Committee, with officers having responsibility for a range of areas such as team tennis, juniors, land and buildings, social and the bar. 

Throughout the 20th Century the Chairman has guided the development of Martin Dene. 

The role over these decades was filled 

by Dick Butler; Jimmy Cole; Arthur Hickinbotham; Ron Frost; John Burdett; Eric Milton; Godfrey Bowden; Harry Lynch; John Snowden; Barry Riddington; Graeme Sopp; Phil Lynch and Nick Webb

As the new millennium dawned, a change in leadership at the top occurred as longstanding member and former Treasurer, Bar Chair and Social Chair Malcolm Holmes was elected club Chairman for what he thought would be a couple of years at most’. Ably supported by club stalwarts Barry Riddington, Ian Milton, Ian Milligan, Keith Wallace and Adrian Thomas, Malcolm immediately oversaw the resurfacing of the courts, a significant investment for the club. 

In the two decades that followed Martin Dene saw a resurgence in competitive tennis with a revitalised men’s first team featuring at the very top of both the Kent and North Kent leagues. Alongside club legends Ian Milligan and Errol Evans, new names such as Dave McGonigle, Chris Wyles and brothers Suk and Ravi Sahl represented the club at this time. 

Strength in depth saw the club fielding multiple teams in local leagues with members such as Steve Seffens and John Wallace progressing from the junior ranks in the 1990s to playing hundreds of matches for the club- and even the occasional first team appearance.

This period also witnessed the rise of another club superstar to rival Paul Ryan’s previous exploits as Sophia Thomas emerged from the Martin Dene juniors to reach a high of UK number 2 in the U16s and U18s, and went on to represent the University of Arizona on a sporting scholarship.

Friends Lost

In early 2017 Martin Dene lost two of its most popular members. Errol Evans had represented the club (and many other sides at a very high level) for decades, largely commuting from his Middlesex base to play for the Dene. He often formed a formidable partnership with Ian Milligan on the doubles court. Barry Riddington had over his many decades as a member played for every team for which he was eligible and additionally filled nearly all Committee positions, including two spells as Chairman of the club itself. Latterly, he had been Malcolm’s deputy and always reserved the right to pour the first round of drinks on Friday nights. The bar at which he held court for so many years is now named in his honour.

2018 saw the passing of longstanding club President Joan Milton. Her association with the tennis club she loved had begun in 1943. Fittingly, Joan was replaced as President by her son Ian, who himself had spent many years as both Treasurer and Honorary Secretary of Martin Dene, thus becoming the third member of the Milton dynasty to hold the club’s highest honorary position. 

2020-2025: a pandemic and a new 

The Covid pandemic beginning in 2020 coincided with a changing of the guard at Martin Dene. Malcolm Holmes announced to members that he would be stepping down as Chairman in May 2021, having achieved a rather longer tenure than he had initially envisaged. His legacy was assured and he was elevated to honorary status by the club’s new Committee. 

Ian Milton also stepped away from day-to-day Committee duties, having done so much to secure the medium term financial health of the club through the pandemic period as Treasurer. 

Adrian Thomas, who as Honorary Secretary 

had played a pivotal hands-on role during the pandemic, became Martin Dene’s 

new Chairman at this time.

2020 also saw the launch of the Sophia Thomas Tennis Academy, an ambitious business grown from scratch by Sophia which is the strategic coaching partner for Martin Dene. 

2025 marks the outstanding achievement of Martin Dene LTC’s 90th anniversary.