Personal Profiles of the Officers

Your Chairman - Mike Powell

Born 1939 to sporting Chippenham parents who lived adjoining the tennis courts of Chippenham Sports Club, Mike started tennis at 8 and won his first tournament at 9. Selected for Wiltshire Juniors, he won Open Tournaments at Exeter and Lansdown Bath in 1956 and was accepted for the National Junior Championships at Wimbledon aged 17, losing in 3 sets to Roger Taylor. He captained Bristol University for 3 years, winning the UAU team title once and being selected for English Universities.

He played for Wiltshire Senior Teams from 1954 until 1969, twice in Group 2, but abandoned tennis for squash for 17 years before making a comeback in 1986 to Wiltshire O45 Vets and the Chippenham Club.

He retained his interest in tennis and was Wilts LTA Treasurer for 21 years from 1972 and Wilts' Councilor on the National LTA for 20 years from 1983. He became C&DT League Chairman in 2005 upon John Ford's untimely death. In 2010 his work for the LTA and Wilts LTA was recognized by being awarded the "Outstanding Contribution to Wiltshire Tennis" and in 2013 the National Body presented him with the "LTA Meritorious Service Award".

He has been playing in the League for Melksham and captains Wilts O70 Vets Mens Team and plays in the Indoor, Hardcourt & Grasscourt National Championships. Now retired, he was in the Estate Agency business locally for over 25 years with a late career working for The National Trust at Avebury World Heritage Site.

Life Members and Life Vice Presidents / Personal Profile of Officers - League Secretary