Fletcher, Helen - Derbyshire's 'Best Ever' Lady Tennis Player?

HELEN FLETCHER - DERBYSHIRE'S 'BEST EVER' LADY TENNIS PLAYER

Our ever-expanding 'Famous Residents' section embraces a growing variety of sporting personalities. Here Peter Seddon strikes a blow for Lawn Tennis by including Helen Fletcher, whose commendable record suggests that no Derbyshire lady has ever surpassed her on the tennis court.

Helen Fletcher on the Wimbledon Centre Court in 1951 - note the natty shorts and sensible cardigan

Tennis has been a very popular sport in Derbyshire for over a century. In that time the county has produced a healthy number of very talented players - but none who could truly be labelled great.

But the occasional name from the past does at least 'stand out'. One such in the ladies' game was Helen Fletcher, who in the early 1950s was among the top few British ladies in tennis.

Yet little has been written of her save the bare statistics of her career. This is what has come to light so far.

Reports from the Derby Evening Telegraph at the time she was playing invariably referred to her as 'Heanor's left-hander Helen Fletcher'. That suggests to anyone but the raging sceptic that she was born in Heanor - or at least that she certainly lived there. And she 'was' left-handed, since photographs show her playing. An apt description from the Telegraph then!

As for her ability, she was good enough to play in the Wimbledon Championships. The archives suggest that her first appearance at 'the' tennis tournament was in 1951. Although she was beaten in the second round she was handed the experience of playing on the legendary Centre Court - presumably because she was a 'plucky Brit' who the committee thought would enjoy the ritual humiliation of an early exit in front of over-expectant fans.

Nevertheless this first tentative foray into the top flight gave her the confidence to try again, and she improved in each successive Wimbledon she entered.

In 1952 she lost in the 3rd Round to the eighth seed Jean Rinkel-Quartier, a British lady despite her name.

But Fletcher had caught the eye, and in 1953 was made the sixth seed. This time she improved on her last outing - she was beaten in the 4th Round.

And in 1954 - when seeded 7 - Helen Fletcher did what no other Derbyshire lady has ever achieved - she reached the last eight of the Ladies Singles at Wimbledon.

In the event the 'Heanor lass' was unable to progress further against a strong American opponent - she lost 6-1, 6-3 to Doris Hart. That was certainly no disgrace, as Hart had not only won Wimbledon in 1951 but had also landed each of the other Grand Slam singles events at least once - that's the French, Australian and U.S. Ladies Singles titles.

Helen Fletcher was also a good doubles player. In 1953 she reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in partnership with Jean Rinkel-Quartier. Alas Doris Hart stood in her way on this occasion too - with her American partner Shirley Fry. Their class told - Fletcher and Rinkel-Quartier were trounced 6-0, 6-0.

Bad as that sounded, there were extenuating circumstances. Hart and Fry were simply far better tennis players. In fact they also won the Final 6-0, 6-0 - and that against a pairing which included a real tennis prodigy, another American, Maureen 'Little Mo' Connolly.

Helen Fletcher competed in many other tournaments besides Wimbledon but never won a 'major' title. Her ability was recognised, though, by her inclusion in the British Ladies Wightman Cup team in 1954 which took on the Americans in that long-standing contest.

But there the Helen Fletcher trail ends. The only clue to her personal life is that her married name is listed in the Wimbledon archives as Mrs. M. Barker - so she married a Mr. Barker it seems.

Exactly when and where Helen Fletcher was born has not come to light - but probably in Heanor in the 1920s. Nor is it generally known whether she has passed away or is still living.

'Heanor's left-hander Helen Fletcher' may not have been a star in the 'tennis-babe' mould so hyped today, but unless someone knows differently she must certainly be regarded as Derbyshire's 'first lady' of the tennis courts.

If anyone knew Helen Fletcher or can add to this piece, your contribution will enhance the archives of Derbyshire's sporting heritage. Just click on 'edit' or 'discussion' and begin writing.

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I have read the article about Helen Fletcher (Derby's best lady tennis player). I would like to add to this article as she is my mother. She is still alive living in Worcestershire, birth date 24.08.31. Younger than you thought. She gave up tennis at the tender age of 24. Posted by Maggie Warner.

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