Last month the Cliff Richard Tennis Foundation held a special hospitality evening at Southside House in Wimbledon, courtesy of Mr Rupert Carr, one of our valued supporters who attended our Downing Street Event last year.

Southside has long associations with royalty from Ann Boleyn, Charles I, Charles II, Frederick Prince of Wales and Edward VII. This atmospheric old family home is still lived in by the descendants of Robert Pennington, who built it in 1687. A young soldier from the Scottish borders, Pennington, who had escaped with Prince Charles after Oliver Cromwell had killed King Charles 1 during the English Civil War, took refuge in Holland. After he returned to England he built Southside House, in the style of Dutch Baroque architecture.

Hosted by Cliff and supported by Raven Leisure, the evening was an opportunity for us to entertain a number of our key supporters and other invited guests who we hope will consider supporting our work. Guests at the evening included Roger Draper, CEO of Sport England, Tennis Legend Virginia Wade, and Foundation regulars Mike Read and Gloria Hunniford.

Our grateful thanks go to Rupert Carr for his kind offer to host the event at Southside House, and also to all of the guests who attended the evening. If you would like to know more about Southside, please visit the website at: http://www.southsidehouse.com