Mystery of plaque to tennis coach Yuri Ouvarov discovered in Regent's Park

Published: 16 December 2010
by TOM FOOT

A PLAQUE commemorating a former tennis coach who took his own life at his favourite court has mysteriously appeared in Regent’s Park.

Yuri Ouvarov committed suicide in December 2007 at the historic tennis school where he had worked at for 14 years, after it was forced to close after 99 years.

The stone plaque, which has been placed at the foot of a tall tree near the former courts, reads: “This Place is Yours Forever – Good Rally Yuri!”

Yuri Ouvarov coached celebrity stars including Des Lynam and Amanda Holden, but was remembered especially after his death as being happiest when coaching children in the Regent’s Park Tennis School.

His daughter Alla, 31, said: “I came to the park on Monday for the third anniversary and the plaque was there. It’s strange because I am still in touch with people from the tennis school and his friends. It must have been one of his pupils.”

The former Hampstead School pupil, who now runs her own fat-free liquid egg white company, added: “We’re hoping someone can solve the mystery of who put it there.”

The Royal Parks Agency refused to renew the school’s lease hoping its closure would help an application to build a five-a-side football centre and car park on the site.

But a massive campaign was launched to save the school and four acres of woodland from development and Westminster Council rejected the scheme.

The school site is being returned to parkland with a wildlife nesting ground and new trees are being planted.