Ladies' Section also formed with Virol Ltd, G.E. & Co. Ltd., Hamilton Sports, Geeandee and Preston Road T.T.C.

Institute (Wembley) are the first League Champions.

Men's teams were five a side, all play all at one game only, making a total of 25 games to a match. Ladies had three players per team and played a similar format as for league matches today, although only 2 points were awarded for a win.

First Closed Championships held with the Men's Singles played for Haynes Cup, and won by J. Gill (Wembley & Sudbury).

NOTE: It would appear that during the first few seasons the Closed Championships were actually held by Wembley Hospital under the auspices of the League. Entries were eccepted from any players in the Wembley area and not restricted to League players only.

Team Knock-Out Competition introduced. Entry fee 2/6d. (12 ½p) per team of four (three to play). First won by Geeandee.

Wembley Open Championships held for the first time with the Men's Singles event won by Alec Brook (West Ealing).

Open Championships enlarged to five events: Ladies' and Men's Singles and Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. Men's Singles attracts 75 entries.

Closed Championships introduce a Ladies' Singles event to be played for the Sampson Cup, won on the first occasion by Miss P. Hodgkinson (Woodland).

G Marshall (Kingsway) first to win three titles in Wembley Open Championships.

Management Committee meeting held in May to allocate points for all matches not played!

Ladies' Inter-League played for the first time with matches against the North Middlesex League (Drew 6-6 & Won 12-0). Men's Inter-League opponents were:- North Middlesex (4-8, 0-12), Railway Athletic Association (5-7, 5-7), and the Aylesbury League (12-0).

Sir Isidore Salmon C.B.E., D.L., J.P., M.P., (Harrow) was the President, JW Tebb was the Chairman, and OW Shaw the Secretary and Treasurer.

In Men's Divisions 1 & 2 teams now consist of 4 players. The 1 & 2 in each team play the opposing 1 & 2 the best of three games, and similarly the 3s & 4s play one another making a total of 8 sets.

In the other Men's Divisions, teams remain 5 a side, all play all at one game.

Extracts from other rules in force at the time are as follows:-

Annual subscription, including E.T.T.A. fees, 12/6d. (62½p) per Club, addltional teams 8s. (40p). Donation of 5s. (25p) must be made by each Club towards the Wembley Championships in return for which 5 admission tickets will be given for the Finals Night.

Lady players are not permitted to compete in Men's teams. (No rule to stop Men playing in a Ladies' Team!)

Score card to be with Results Secretary within 48 hours! If not received in time or not correctly signed a fine of 6d (2 ½p) will be incurred.

No club shall be allowed to have more than one team competing in any division.

Standard refreshments consisting of tea or coffee and biscuits are to be provided for all League matches.

Harry Finch first joins Managament Committee as a Divisional Results Secretary.

With the exception of the Secretary, the League Handbooks of this era did not show the telephone numbers of any league officials as any communication was expected to be in writing.

Teams in all Men's divisions now consist of 4 players with matches of 8 sets. Ladies' teams remain 3-a-side.

Severe criticism of the Secretary/Treasurer forced him to resign in mid-season. Harry Finch was elected to take over this post and continued to do it throughout the war years and up to 1956-57.

A.J. Elvin, later to become Sir Arthur Elvin, M.B.E., is elected as President and continues to support the League in this post for 19 years.

The entries for the Championships this season totalled 666 (Open 543, Closed 123).

The Men's League Representative Team won the Metropolitan Association Competition.

Miss Jean Nicoll (Herga) won the Ladies' Singles in the English Open Championships.

The handbook for this season with 72 pages was the largest produced in the history of the League, and contained detailed fixture lists for each of the 117 teams, although it omitted to include details of the previous season's winners of the Wembley Championships.

The cost of printing the handbooks was high at £50 and added to the league's financial problems of the time. The Wembley News (printers of the 1936-37 handbook) gave a quote for the next season of only £13-1-6d (£13.07½) for 1,000 handbooks!

Advertisements in the handbook at this time offered a Jacques Tournament Table for £9-17-6d (£9.87½p), Barna bats at 3/9 (19p), spare rubbers 6d (2½p), and Barna 3 Crown balls at 3/9 (19p) per dozen.

51 teams enter hastily arranged Emergency Competition. 3-a-side, men, ladies or mixed teams, and to minimise travelling, grouped into areas. Two sections in Wembley, three sections in Harrow, irrespective of strength.

No limit to the number of players registered - no fees to be charged.

Score cards to cost 6d (2½p) for 25 or 9d (3¾p) for 50 - post free.

No handbooks - Matches scheduled for week nights but by mutual arrangement could be played on Saturday or Sunday afternoons or evenings.

In the event of an Air Raid where the "All Clear" is not sounded until after 6 p.m. the match shall be considered abandoned and rearranged for another date.

Chairman resigns mid-season. R.C. Mortlake Mann appointed and remains in Chair for 9 years.

Wembley Open Championships abandoned for this season. Committee Minutes indicate Wembley Closed held at B.O.C., but no record of winners of the events.

At the end of the season there was a playoff between the winners of the Wembley Section (Institute) and the Harrow Section (Herga) which Institute won 5-4.

Miss Jean Nicoll (Herga) partnered by Miss D. Beregi (Hungary) won the ladies' Doubles in the English Open Championships.

War Emergency Competition continues, but with teams placed in two divisions according to strength.

Management Committee decide to discontinue with league telephone at Secretary's house and it was duly disconnected.

Player Registration Fee re-introduced at 3d (1¼p).

Financial position improves - loan taken out two years ago repaid.

The Wembley Championships to be held at the Town Hall, Wembley, on Sunday 18th May 1941, postponed until Saturday 7th June due to threatened action by the Lord’s Day Observance Society. Many Polish and Czech army players entered, and nearly 1,000 spectators watched the continuous play from 9 a.m. until the last final at 11.30 p.m.

Richard Bergmann and Victor Barna also gave an exhibition match.

Further success for Miss Jean Nicoll (Herga) who won three Open titles with the Ladies' Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.

In addition, a Wembley Tournament was held for league players and any other players living within a 10 mile radius. The Wembley News reported, "One Kenton resident, Mr Norman Reeve, who had been evacuated to Colwyn Bay made a special trip to take part." He didn't win! Results: Men’s Singles - A. Berg; Ladies’ Singles - Miss G. Mace; Men’s Doubles - C. Merrett & R. Hook; Ladies’ Doubles - Miss E. Finch & Miss G. Mace; Mixed Doubles - W. Stennett & Miss E. Finch.