Cassette recording, Henry Johns, MCC Tennis Professional, interviewed by Geoffrey Moorhouse at Lord's Cricket Ground. The recording consists of two sides of a cassette.
Side 1: [0:00-1:10] Johns talks about first working at Lord's in 1928, assisting the Head Professional Jack Groom, [1:10-4:35] Johns talks about where he worked before Lord's including at the Prince's Club and Queen's Club and working as a ball boy after leaving school, [4:35-5:20] Johns talks about the number of real tennis courts today compared to when he started in the profession, [5:20-7:00] Johns talks about the characteristics of the real tennis court at Lord's, and what makes a good tennis court, [7:00-10:20] Johns talks about making tennis balls himself and making balls for the New York Racquet Club, [10:20-13:15] Johns talks about comparing real tennis to and squash and the differences between the sports and some of the players who he saw play including S C Griffith, Ronald Aird and D R Jardine, [13:15-20:50] Johns talks about the real tennis court at Lord's compared to Queen's Club and Hampton Court and how the Lord's court is faster then the other courts, and the damage to the court during the Second World War, and tennis at Lord's continuing during the Second World War, [20:50-22:25] Johns talks about arrangements to use the real tennis court at Lord's and the use of the court by MCC Members, [22:25-28:45] Johns talks about changes to the demographic of tennis membership during his time at Lord's, and Johns' service in the Royal Artillery, and how MCC staff are now allowed to use the courts but when Johns played women were not allowed to watch in the dedans, [28:45-35:40] Johns talks about changes in the dress code including requirements to wear whites and the changes in the status of members who used the courts, [35:40-39:45] Johns talks about the role of the tennis professional at Lord's, and the role of tennis within Lord's, and watching D G Bradman and A L Hassett play tennis at Lord's, [39:45-41:09] Johns talks about tennis courts outside the United Kingdom.
[0:00-1:40] Johns talks about great tennis matches played at Lord's including Gold and Silver Racquet matches and matches played by Johns against Jim Dear during luncheon intervals, and matches played by Howard Angus, [1:40-4:00] Johns talks about the standard of play in 1989 compared to when he played, [4:00-5:20] Johns talks about teaching real tennis to young players, [5:20-7:10] Johns talks about the appeal of real tennis, and the average profession of a real tennis player, [7:10-8:55] Johns talks about the future of real tennis and the cost of operating real tennis at Lord's, [8:55-10:15] Johns talks about the use and repair of tennis balls, [10:15-12:45] Johns talks about the limitations of the sport including the lack of courts, [12:45-13:45] Johns talks about the rackets court at Lord's, [13:45-18:50] Johns talks about ladies playing squash at Lord's but not using the real tennis court, and his concerns about women membership of MCC, [18:50-22:59] Johns talks about continuing to visit Lord's despite retiring and the attraction of working at Lord's and Moorhouse talks about the new Mound Stand.
