Image from Wikimedia

Spencer Gore was born in Wimbledon in 1850 and lived near the All England Croquet Club, a sports facility which later became the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and hosted the first ever Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship in 1877. As a sportsman, Gore had initially made a name for himself as a cricketer and had captained the Harrow School team in 1869 and played county cricket for Surrey in 1874 and 1875.

The first Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship was an all-male affair with 22 men paying a guinea to enter the Gentleman’s Singles Challenge and Gore scooping the 12-guinea prize and silver cup after a straight-set win in the final. He failed to repeat the success a year later and his sporting activities look to have returned to cricket.

The Ramsgate connection is through his death at Granville Hotel. Benedict Kelly included details of the possibly suspicious nature of his death in his Story of The Granville Hotel 1869 to 2012 published by Michael’s Bookshop. More recently, in 2023 Councillor Barbara Young drew attention to the lack of recognition for Spencer Gore in Ramsgate. She wrote:

“Spencer died in Ramsgate aged 56 on April 19, 1906…. He was a forerunner of all tennis champions as we know of in the game today. The fact that he rests in Ramsgate Cemetery and not many of us know about that is sad…. I ask all of you players and others who enjoy the game if there is a chance of a get together to restore Spencer’s grave and highlight the fact that we have the first Wimbledon champion buried in Ramsgate Cemetery?”

A dedicated campaign was launched in 2024 to refurbish Spencer’s dilapidated grave and to make his resting place more prominent and widely-known. This was initiated by Dominic Murphy of Friends of Spencer Square and Gavid Vickers of Infinity Tennis and Net Gain Communities CIC.

The project raised £5,919.38 through a combination of community crowdfunding, a £2,000 grant from Thanet Lotto, £1,494.58 from Ramsgate Town council, £500 from The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and £300 from Cllr. Barbara Young.

Photo: Terry Prue

The Ramsgate Society facilitated the making of the blue plaque by Croft Castings who we have used for many years, and as a result Spencer Gore has been added to the list of the Ramsgate Society Blue Plaques Project, which consists of 24 existing plaques including Charles Darwin, Karl Marks, HRH Princess Victoria, Wilkie Collins, John Le Mesurier and other famous people with connections to the town.

Photo of Inscription on Renewed Gravestone: Terry Prue

The unveiling of a blue plaque and a blessing of his refurbished grave took place on July 9th – exactly 148 years to the day since Spencer won the very first Wimbledon Men’s Singles Championship. As well as those directly involved in the campaign, the event was attended by Ramsgate Mayor, Laurie Hudson who unveiled the blue plaque, Ramsgate Society Secretary, Michael Ashley and by 10 direct descendants of Spencer Gore.

The family members received a commemorative scroll and added their support for the Spencer Gore Family Cup – a new annual, free family tennis tournament to take place every summer. The idea of the tournament is for parents and children to have a fun and friendly afternoon of tennis that creates new memories while honouring one of sport’s earliest icons.

Quotes from the Day

Gavid Vickers, Founder of Infinity Tennis and Net Gain Communities CIC: “The Spencer Gore Family Cup is another exciting step forward in removing the barriers to starting tennis and helping more people experience the joy, confidence and connection that comes from playing this fabulous game”

Jasmin Vickers of Net Gain Communities CIC: “What made this day remarkable, is how people from across the local community have been brought together and dedicated, time, expertise and resources to tell the story of Spencer Gore. This wasn’t just a tennis event but a true community project”

Dominic Murphy of The Friends of Spencer Square: “The Spencer Gore project has been a joy. In recognising an almost forgotten hero we have helped people enjoy sport, given Ramsgate a boost and made a lasting difference with the renovation of his grave. All this with a volunteer team that has been a pleasure to be a part of.”

Ricky Gore, the great-great-great grandson of Spencer Gore: “It (The Spencer Gore Family Cup) feels really fitting and the grave looks fantastic. Whenever Wimbledon is on, I do think of him and his name being up there with people like Roger Federer.”