The new lease arrangements clearly suggested the need for a club. Real tennis was played on the court in the nineteen thirties under the auspices of the newly formed Jesmond Dene Tennis Club launched in 1932. The club was organised by old friends of the court. The President was Viscount Grey of Fallodon, who as Edward Grey had played on the opening day in 1894. Viscount Grey would however die in 1933, age 71. The Club Chairman was Captain H.B Noble (later Sir Humphrey).
Other Noble family members who supported the club were Sir George Noble (1859-1937) (friend of Baden-Powell and author of Birds of Jesmond Dene (1908)) and Sir John Noble (1865-1938). Aristocratic members included Lord Leconfield, Lord Abedare, Lord Ridley, Lord Armstrong and Lord Ravensworth. Old players showing their support included E.M Baerlein and Captain Cazalet.
The court opened for business on January 10th 1932 at 11 am. The first hon. secretary was Harold Wild. He marked the opening singles match between Charles Lambert and the visiting professional R. Goody of Oxford. In doing so he caused some consternation: ‘it is believed that only once previously has an amateur marked a professional match. By coincidence the other occasion was in the same court, when E.B. Noel marked a match between Lambert and G.Cooke, Manchester.’
The Newcastle Journal reporting on the same opening matches also recorded that “Local sportsmen desiring to assist in the promotion of the new venture should communicate with Mr. Wild…” This was something wholly new in the life of the court: local sportsmen.
