What link can a Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers possibly have with Wimbledon? The answer: tennis ball cloth. WSP Textiles Ltd in Stroud have been manufacturing Playne's woven tennis felt for nearly 100 years. Winterbotham, Strachan and Playne were the founding mill owners when the Cotswold area was a major centre for wool. They made high grade flannels, coatings, suitings and uniform cloth for the military, and the Royal family. The company came back into British ownership in 2011, following a management buyout backed by Vespa Capital. Today they focus on high performance woollen cloth for billiard tables and tennis balls. The tennis ball cloth is used by Dunlop, Slazenger and other major brands, and for balls used in three of the Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon.
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