All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), also known as the All England Club, based at Church Road, Wimbledon, London, England, is a private members' club. It is best known as the venue for the Wimbledon Championships, the only Grand Slam tennis event still held on grass. Initially an amateur event that occupied club members and their friends for a few days each summer, the championships have become far more prominent than the club itself. However, it still operates as a members' tennis club.
| Nickname | All England Club |
|---|---|
| Established | 23 July 1868 |
| Legal status | Private company limited by guarantee |
| Headquarters | Church Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 5AE |
| Location |
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Membership (2017) | 565 |
Patron | The Princess of Wales |
Chief Executive | Sally Bolton |
Chair of the Board | Debbie Jevans |
| Sally Ambrose, Richard Baker, Anne Keothavong Bretherton, The Lord O'Donnell, Kevin Havelock, Tim Henman, Debbie Jevans, Simon Jones, Richard Stoakes, Ashley Tatum, The Hon Henry Weatherill. | |
Formerly called | All England Croquet Club All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club |
The club has 375 full members, about 100 temporary playing members, and a number of honorary members. To become a full or temporary member, an applicant must obtain letters of support from four existing full members, two of whom must have known the applicant for at least three years. The name is then added to the candidates' list. Honorary members are elected from time to time by the club's committee. Membership carries with it the right to purchase two tickets for each day of the Wimbledon Championships. In addition to this all champions are invited to become members.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been the patron of the club since 2016 (then the Duchess of Cambridge) when the then monarch Elizabeth II stepped back from a number of royal patronages.