John Prenn's generous 30 years of support to Rackets
The Lacoste era in Rackets sponsorship has ended. It was a very sad day for the sport when John Prenn sold his remaining stake in the business signifying the end of Lacoste's involvement in Rackets. With typical generosity, John said he was keen to financially support the game as much as possible and would continue to sponsor the World Championships. Through John, Lacoste ensured the health of British Rackets over the past 20 years and everybody involved in the sport will be forever grateful.
In fact, John's involvement with sponsoring the sport he enjoys so much extends back well beyond the Lacoste era. As early as December 1979, John persuaded his father to sponsor Rackets through his company Celestion Loudspeakers, and so a dynasty was born. Nearly 31 years later, the game is extremely healthy and vigorously moving forward in the twenty-first century. John's personal touch is still very much evident throughout the game.
Peter Mallinson, T&RA Chairman, commented Rackets should be enormously grateful to John and the Prenn family for such generous commitment to the game of Rackets and to the T&RA in general. It was also incredibly generous of John to offer to personally sponsor his tournaments for next season in the event no alternative sponsor was found, and indeed to continue to sponsor the upcoming World Championships."
John's involvement with the games is, of course, ongoing with his continued participation at the highest levels in both Rackets and Real Tennis tournaments and in his involvement as a Life Vice-President of the T&RA.