Tinling, Cuthbert

Cuthbert Collingwood Tinling
Born: March 23, 1990
Hometown: Eastbourne, United Kingdom
Citizenship: United Kingdom
Inducted: 1986

Contributions
Innovator: Design/dressmaker for female players

International Tennis Federation     Chief of Protocol     1978-90

Fed Cup     Chief of Protocol-On court host     1978-90

International Liaison, Virginia Slims     Director     1982-90

The Leaning Tower of Pizzazz, 6-foot-5 Cuthbert Collingwood Tinling entered the Hall of Fame in 1986 as a many-faceted benefactor game. Witty and literate, a man who had served as a lieutenant colonel in intelligence for the British army during World War II, Tinling a right-hander, was a good enough player to compete on the English circuit after the war. But it was as an involved bystander that he served the game well, first as a teenager on the Riviera where he, spending winters for reasons of ill health, umpired matches, including some e great Suzanne Lenglen.

He was master of ceremonies at Wimbledon until one of his careers, that of designer-dress-maker, made him for a time persona non grata. That occurred in 1949 when he scandalously (or so it seemed to the tournament committee) equipped American Gertrude “Gussy” Moran with lace panties that drew hordes of photographers and spectators. Ted made beautiful as well as avant-garde costumes for many female players, including Maureen Connolly, Maria Bueno, Billie Jean King, Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong, who all won majors in his dresses.

He was couturier for the newly formed Virginia Slims circuit, and later the Slimsies’ minister of protocol and emcee, a strong advocate of the women’s game. An unmistakable bald-headed beacon, he was of immeasurable value late in life as historian and writer who had observed most of the game’s 1uminaries, and as liaison between the players and Wimbledon. Outspoken, generous in informing and counseling newcomers to the game, Ted could make light of his own death, remarking on one of his last days: “Send me a fax to hell to let me know if Jennifer [Capriati] wins Wimbledon.” He was born June 23, 1910, in Eastbourne, England, and died May 23, 1990, in Cambridge, England.

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