But alas, life is such that nothing ever stays the same.  The winds of change would soon howl once again throughout the land.  This time the change was instigated by, of all things, one of Mississaugua's very own - a most loyal and up-standing subject by the name of Bud McAnerney.  Bud, being young and foolish, came before the powerful Board of Directors, to request that another group be granted permission to co-exist in the valley.  This group of people were known as the Tennis people.

Young Bud had done his homework, looking first at the cost of having these people reside at Mississaugua, because as is well known, Tennis people could duly live on the Courts.  The idea was not well received by the leaders.  Nor for that matter, by the general citizenry, otherwise known as Membership.  Mississaugua was viewed to be "complete" with all its traditions and character.  The cries were many:  "Tennis?  Could a Swimming Pool be far behind?  Gasp!  And then, we know what that means...screaming kids!!   Uh Oh??"  And so....., the idea had to be buried, deep in the hearts of many.

Time passed.  The youth of the land and those outside the boundaries of Mississaugua were beginning to stir.  They found excitement and enjoyment at physical and sweaty

sports such as Squash and Racquetball.  Yes, indeed, even Tennis reared its head once again.  And here begins, finally, dear Friends, the Legend of the Tennis people....

To stem the rising tide throughout the river valley, the wise President of the time, Ken Howie, decreed that a "Racquets Investigation Committee" be established.  This was done. Hal Bennett, a trusted Golfer was duly anointed to its helm. Hal Bennett approached the Young Bud to bear arms (or in this case, racquets) with him and his Committee.  Henceforth, the warriors marched to gauge interest and support amongst the Membership for these new-fangled sports.  It was soon clear that only Tennis need apply for entry into Mississaugua.  Back to the Board went the brave pair to inform the Directors of their findings.  The Directors were pleased.  They encouraged the due to follow the mighty rule of the land which was, and still is, that all must approach them with a "formal presentation" to be followed by another presentation to the Membership of Mississaugua.  A daunting task, indeed.  Hal Bennett hemmed and stewed claiming that his task was done.  However, other wise Directors, namely Bob Washburn and Bill McKenzie, stepped forth and gently chided him saying, “Ye cannot conceive a child, Laddie, and then walk away”.

Thus the gauntlet was down.  Even though Hal was not of the Tennis people, he agreed to proceed, searching high and low for the projected costs, revenues, construction, etc.  In other words, the nitty-gritty.  Bud would exercise his budding leadership qualities and develop a tennis programme so that all Members could experience the sport and also become one of those Tennis people.

A flurry of activity then took hold:  membership interest was measured; arms were twisted until active interest was declared; a location for the Courts was determined; and blah, blah, blah………

In the end momentous decisions were woven into the fabric of the Tennis Proposal.  Yes it was important that this sport must be pursued both by day and by night.  Jack Mollenhauer, a Golfer by nature, came to the rescue with an estimate of the cost of a “state of the art” lighting system.  (And he even promised to supervise its installation!)  John Welton, of the Golf people, declared loudly that only clay courts were acceptable because one must be mindful of the knee and hip joints of the Membership.  In the end the Tennis troups won the day, passing through the trials and tribulations of Board and Membership.  A new dawn had begun.

And so it was that in 1978, in the year of the Kingdom, Tennis and its people were ready to claim their rightful place.  As the snows melted away from the hollowed grounds of the valley that Spring, President Howie and many most important Directors and Officers resplendent in their finery did break the sacred sod.  Construction of the Courts was underway.  As just reward for their courageous battle and determination, Hal was appointed as Chairman, Bud, his lieutenant, became Men’s Captain.  Joan Welton was despaired the first of a long line of ever-efficient Ladies’ Captains.

We cannot, but dwell, further on what transpired in those early days of Tennis.  The times oozed with vitality and glory.  The Tennis people, though viewed as “new kids on the block” were chock full of ideas of brilliance sustained by practicality.

A mighty wall was proposed to annihilate the assault of sound and lights coming from Queen Elizabeth Way.  Gerry Blair, eventually Chairman, accomplished this feat by having a 12, not 6 foot steel wall constructed on a berm of impressive height.

There was the mundane problem of adequate washroom facilities.  At first, now-Chairman Bud and Walter Haselsteiner, the Kingdom’s honourable General Manager, conspired to place, Heaven forbid, a “Johnny on the Spot” amongst the pines adjacent to the Courts.  This would be in keeping, or they so thought, with the décor presented by the portable trailer.  This was used as the Pro Shop for the Tennis people when they needed respite from their play.  You may well imagine the direction of the noses of many Board Directors at the thought (and smell ) of these edifices lurking around in their valley.

As things may have it, the residence of the keeper of the Greens for the Golfers, became unoccupied due to a changing of the guard.  Bruce Smith, the Sports Director on the mighty Board, deemed it possible for the Tennis people to occupy it for their purposes.   And so, the likes of John Groves and Howard Kitchen, fine members, they were, decided to link the new Tennis House and Courts with a meandering walkway past gardens of quiet, dignified beauty.  Moreover, while they were at it, a patio deck was a superb idea as well.

The course (and courts) was set; “Tennis is here to stay” soon became a rallying cry of unity and purpose, especially from the lips of the new Ladies’ Captain, Kay Coyle.  A brave and dignified front was put on when the ladies were questioned by the skirt-length conscious Golfers of both sexes as to what Tennis people actually wore.  The reply, of course, was, “Whites only, dear” and so what if bare shoulders on occasion may strip (oops) slip through to mingle and grace with the ever present Golfers in the great Terrace Room.

Yes, dear Friends, these were days of much frivolity and hedonism where many Tennis people demonstrated their true colours, not to mention their skills of play, decorum and general fun-lovingness.  Indeed the sounds of merriment brought Golfers and Curlers alike to join the ranks of Tennis, especially when a ball or two would wander onto the Kingdom’s hollowed fairways.  The cry was, “Confound it! Let us see for ourselves what those young whipper-snappers- are up to”.

Speaking of wandering, it was during these times that a much venerable Tennis tradition became entrenched.  The Bud McAnernys (that is, the esteemed Bud and Helen-Ann) would often journey past the gates of the Kingdom into southern territory and frequent another great Kingdom by the name of Park Club.  An idea was thus conceived; challenge the prowess of these Parkites to a match to end all matches.  The pair pondered long and hard as to how to make this grand event befitting of their great Kingdom.  They even went so far as to borrow the brainpower of fellow members known to all as The Brighams who just happened to own a wondrous collection of wooden racquets.  Why not destruct and then re-construct one of these prized tools and present it as the ultimate trophy.  But, thought the rascally rascals, the prize would be given to, not the conquerors but the losers!  And so, the “Rotten Racquet” was born.  Indeed, brilliant is the only word to describe this mind-boggling twist.

Time continued to pass.  True to their nature the Tennis people played hard on the Courts and they played hard off the Courts.  And true to their nature they were not content to just merely have fun – their fun must come with a “theme”.  We can think of many:  Spring Flings and Fall Flings, Prohibition and even a Murder Mystery.  To this end inimitable Tennis people such as Helen Wright and Doreen Blair swung, not just their racquets but also their musical mights to lead their people through memorable events.  Through it all championships were won, or lost, at the end of each action-packed season.

And so it came to pass that the Tennis people slipped first into their 10th anniversary, then 15th and onto the 20th.  Life was as it should be.  The Tennis people brought their children to play.  Eventually, they introduced their grandchildren to the grand Courts.

Yes, the Courts were grand and magnificent and filled the members with justified pride.  Why, at one point, they even ventured into actually extending their play in the valley by constructing a bubble over top of the Courts.  This permitted everyone to play their matches with wild abandon unimpeded by the storms of winter.  It was another brilliant idea steeped in the tradition of brilliant ideas ever since the Tennis people first settled at Mississaugua.  To be or not to be … that became the eventual question that shrouded over and consumed all the people when they soon learned that there were not enough Tennis people in their ranks to play their games in the Bubble.  And so alas, in the end it was decided that it was not the “appropriate time” to have such a structure in the Kingdom.  The Bubble burst!!

Such sadness permeated the ranks!  But it was ever thus and ever thus it will be: out of the depths of winter the breath of fresh Spring would float over all as the rallying cry of “Re-group Troups!” sounded throughout the valley, or at least, throughout the Courts.  It was not long before, lo and behold, the mighty Board consented to a written proposal (in accordance with the laws) that the Tennis House be renovated to help rejuvenate its people and bring it up to the standards of the prestigious Kingdom.  Much rejoicing followed these new changes and the people resumed their play with great delight.

Now, dear Friends, the 25th anniversary of our people is upon us.  And amongst us, we have friends old and new, together we gather to reminisce and celebrate all that has gone before.  Indeed our history rings with glory, honour and prudence.  Let us remember the feats of our forbearers with gratitude and pride.  May we pledge a vow of dedication to continue to uphold the fun, camaraderie and unity that once was the true mark of the Tennis people.  May we continue to travel and play together as time carries us forth.  The Legend, my friends, is not at the end; but at a new beginning.