Ladies' Recreation Club Historical Archive

Teas

"The teas at these tennis afternoons were of such excellence that they have been remembered much more by past members of those years than dates and personalities. "Of that period, what remains clearest in my mind were the free teas, with large homemade cakes supplied in turn by the Committee" is a typical reminiscence."

'In a letter from Mrs. Kathleen M. Tabor we are told: "I was in Hong Kong as a child at the time of the opening of the Club, and my mother, the late Lady Jackson, wife of the Chief Manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, was one of the promotors".

Mrs. Kathleen Tabor recalls "a very pretty little Clubhouse where tea was provided".. husbands on their way home from work (by sedan chair in those days) could join their wives for tea and tennis.

Mrs. Tabor, the daughter of the late Lady Jackson (wife of the then chief Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank), was a child at the opening of the club." - "History of the Ladies Recreation Club" - 1960

1928 - Annual General Meeting

"... as funds for extensive repairs to the hard courts were required, a charge for teas of 20 cents per head for members should be made"

1931 - Annual General Meeting

"... another proposal to raise the price of teas from 20 to 30 cents was carried by a 7 to 4 vote."

"... visitors should be required to pay 50 cents for the privilege of playing on the courts and they should pay 30 cents for tea instead of having it included in the present fee of 50 cents. ... other clubs were charging $1 for visitors, exclusive of teas.

1947- Annual General Meeting

Income from Teas $ 797.10 - (Bar income $2,891.40)

1948- Annual General Meeting

Income from Teas $ 828.18 - (Bar income $4,117.17)

1949 - Opening of the Swimming Pool

.. swimming and diving exhibitions were held followed by tea and cakes - all in the grand old LRC tradition.