A.W. Blake, an early male English (?) lawn tennis player

[newmark401]

I'm looking for some basic biographical information on A.W. Blake, an early English (or Welsh) lawn tennis player whose first names I haven't even been able to find because they were never listed in early sports papers, magazines, etc.

He was a member of the Clifton Lawn Tennis Club circa 1900 and runner-up in the men's singles event at the Welsh Championships in 1898. However, a lot of players from Bristol/Gloucestershire played in the Welsh Championships in those days, so A.W. Blake may well not have been Welsh.

In addition to his first names, I'm looking for a date and place of birth (and death for him).

Any help would be appreciated.

Mark

[*Sandra*]

There was an Arthur W Blake in the parish of Clifton in 1901 - which seems a coincidence so I will pop him here just incase 

Arthur W Blake  31 House Painter. Born Bristol.
Ellen Blake  31
William Blake  13  Artie S Blake  6

Married Ellen Louise Green - Q4 - Barton Regis. Gloucestershire - 6a 348

Possibility Arthur died June 1937 Bristol Gloucestershire. Aged 68 years. Volume 6a Page 50

Son of Joseph William Blake born 29 May 1843 in  Bristol Gloucestershire England and died Sep 1909 in  Avon, Gloucestershire  - Q3 - Volume 6a 39 - aged 65 years.
Mother Elizabeth Matthews - Married 27 November 1864 - Bristol, St Mary Redcliffe, Gloucestershire.

Arthur one of 7 children - 3 female and 4 males

Regards
Sandra

[AMBLY]

I see A.W.s first mention here is 1886, Clifton, Men's singles:
http://www.tennisarchives.com/player.php?playerid=8146

I was also pondering over that Arthur William BLAKE also, and this is him in 1891 (street & court as in 1901)

1891: They are in Clifton, at 3 Morgans Court, Hotwell Road. Arthur is 23, a Painter, and born - I think Bristol, but the place name that  he and the others,  have been dittoed down from is all but completely faded. Ellen is 24. their son Albert W is 1 and Ellen's widowed mother Emma GREEN is also in-house.   RG12 / Piece 1967 /  Folio: 56 / Pg 2

Possibly the wife Ellen died just after the 1901 Census?
DEATH: Ellen Louisa BLAKE age 30, registered Bristol June Qtr 1901

Cheers
AMBLY

[*Sandra*]

Mother-in-law Emma Green (widow) seems to be in  the house next door in 1891 - 2 Morgans Ct with Arthur, Ellen and young Albert at number 3 Morgans Court.

Sandra

[KGarrad]

I saw Arthur W, too!

But I dismissed him, as I couldn't see a House Painter being a member of Clifton Lawn Tennis Club?

. . .  but I could be wrong?!

[*Sandra*]

Yes, he isn't following the same pattern as a lot of them. 

Sandra

[KGarrad]

I am a croquet player, and I well aware that most tennis clubs developed from croquet clubs around the turn of the century!

( did you know that a tennis court is the size it is, because you can get 2 of them on a croquet lawn?!)

As far as I know, there were few weekend tournaments played back then (in either sport), so members were drawn from the "leisured" classes!
Certainly, in croquet, weekend tournaments only started to catch on in the 1960's.

As I said - I just don't see a house-painter being in this kind of company?!

[newmark401]

^^^^ Thanks for that information. I thought his first name might have been Arthur. However, I also think it unlikely that the man in question was a house painter.

Mark

[keyboard86]

^^^^ Thanks for that information. I thought his first name might have been Arthur. However, I also think it unlikely that the man in question was a house painter.

Mark

   I just wonder what trade ( unless of course one of the gentry) A W Blake would have had, a couple of examples in 1901 Wales were a 29 year old Andrew W Blake  occ Borough Electrical Engineer b Dallinghoe Suffolk RG13/4923/35/2 or an Arthur W Blake 28 occ Assurance Agent b London RG13/4973/133/26

Keyboard86