Miss Truman to Serve

Christine Truman, now Dr Christine Truman Janes MBE, was born in 194 and brought up in Woodford Green Essex.

Her first ambition was to be as good at tennis as her older siblings, hoping to join their mixed doubles. It never happened. Instead she achieved some of her dreams, including a ranking of No.2 in the world, aged 18, in 1959.

She won the Grand Slam title in Paris at 18, the youngest Brit since the war. She holds the record at 16 of being the youngest British semi­ finalist at Wimbledon since Lottie Dod in 1887. 135 years ago! Also US finalist 1959 and Wimbledon finalist 1961.

‘If tennis was easy, why aren’t all the people walking up and down Oxford Street playing at Wimbledon?’

Billie Jean King

‘Work lasts longer than you do…’ Mother

‘Talent will out.’ Father

‘Champions know they will win!’

‘Play the ball, not opponents!’

Coach Norman Kitovitz

‘It’s the tennis girl, dear!’

Clementine to Winston Churchill, 1959