On the 8 June1879, the British tennis player, Ethel Larcombe, was born in Islington.

Ethel first competed at Wimbledon in 1902, losing in the 1st round to Agnes Morton.

Larcombe did not play competitive tennis for four years from 1907 until her return in 1911, and in 1912 she became Wimbledon champion defeating Charlotte Cooper Sterry 6-3, 6-1 in the All-Comers’ final, and subsequently receiving a walkover in the Challenge Round. In total she participated in 11 editions of the Wimbledon Championships between 1902 and 1921. She also won the Scottish Championship singles title three times (1910–12) and the singles title at the Irish Championships in 1912.

Ethel played her service underhand, in contrast to most of her contemporaries. She possessed an effective smash, but her favoured shot was the backhand down the line.

In addition Ethel won as 11 badminton titles at the All England Badminton Championships. Five of them in women’s singles (1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1906), four in women’s doubles and two in mixed doubles.

In 1906 she married Major Dudley Larcombe, the secretary of the All England Club (1925-1939).

She died in Budleigh Salterton, in 1965, aged 86.

8 June, 2019