Volvo reminiscences from readers

I remember Volvo very well! I played some tennis back then and took lessons on the front clay courts at the New England Inn. After a lesson, I was riding my bike to the Parka for work (we actually served lunch on the patio back then) and had to stop at the tennis court to watch Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors playing. Best day of my life! (I had to ride my bike because the traffic was so bad!) — Terry O'Brien, Red Parka

I started working at Shaw's when I was 16 and worked all during high school from 1974-76, school nights, weekends and summers. One afternoon, during the Volvo days, Jimmy Connors came through my line. I had no dollar bills in my cash drawer and had to offer him four quarters for a dollar. He was gracious. I had no idea who he was until someone ran over and told me after he left. A short time later, his girlfriend, Marjorie Wallace (Miss World 1973) came in and asked me where the Hawaiian Punch was located. She was very striking and looked "famous!" Again, I found out about her afterwards from those more in the know than me. I took up tennis myself in 2006. In my 50s I played on the Volvo courts at Cranmore the day before they removed them. In honor of Volvo it would be great to promote local tennis with renewed vigor and build the best year-round facility we can in honor of Jimmy and all those wonderful Volvo players from the 70s. We have some incredible players in this area today and for all people, it can be an incredibly fun and positive lifelong sport and workout. — Rachel Andrews Damon, Fryeburg, Maine