Poynder Tennis History

Poynder Tennis was formed by Jean Poynder (nee Saunders) who coached in Malvern from 1946 and who was one of the very first women professional tennis coaches. Prior to 1939, Jean Saunders as she then was, competed at Wimbledon and reached the last 8 of the Ladies Doubles and subsequently became a member of the prestigious Wimbledon Last 8 Club.

Jane followed in her Mother’s footsteps and also competed at Wimbledon and in 1969 qualified as an LTA Professional Coach. It was then that the Poynder School of Tennis & Squash was born, to become Poynder Tennis Squash, Ltd. in subsequent years.

In 1973 Jane became National Coach for Women’s Squash and divided her time between the two sports. She represented both England and Worcestershire at both Tennis and Squash.

Poynder Tennis has provided tennis coaching at a number of schools within the Malvern area over three decades and currently provides coaching at;

Malvern College, The Downs, Malvern College, Malvern St. James, The Elms, Colwall, The King’s School, Worcester, St. Mary’s Convent School, Worcester and St. Richard’s School, Bromyard. Outreach sessions are also held in the many primary schools within the Worcestershire West Sports Partnership. These take place both in curriculum time and as after school sessions and over the last two years at least 2000 children have benefited from tennis instruction from the coaching team.