Tavistock Tennis Club held its annual meeting on Thursday. Mike Jefferies, the outgoing chairman, said the year had been a good one with a full programme of activities and an increase in membership.

He said the club must not be complacent and had to look to the future and such matters as the resurfacing of three of the old courts.

Highlights of the year had been the hosting of the Tavistock Juniors Rating LTA National Tournament for the tenth year running and the Devon Closed Junior Tennis Championships which attracted considerable interest in the club. He expressed thanks to the committee and other members who had done so much towards the smooth running of the club.

In the Plymouth and District League competitions, all teams maintained their places in the various divisions.

There were 19 friendly matches, three of them organised by the league, well up on 13 last year with a new fixture against Teign Valley and two clubs not played for many years, Callington and St Mellion.

Club tournaments had been well supported with some new entrants and there had been a good standard of play.

Club finances were sound but an increase in subscriptions of six per cent was necessary to meet rising costs, repayment of loans for the Millennium Development Project and other anticipated expenses.

On a sad note the club?s oldest member at the time, Jim Roe, 95, died in August, an incredible man who played right to the last.

Officers were re-elected with the exception of Mike who stood down after seven years as chairman but would remain on the committee and continue to run the juniors section. David Isaac has taken on the role for one year. Mike Webber is to be co-opted onto the committee.

There were tributes from president Norma Woodcock who expressed thanks for what Mike had achieved for the club. Vice-president Bill Smyly said Tavistock was now one of the best tennis clubs in the county. Mike had spent many hours of dedicated work in getting the lottery grant and ran the juniors almost single handed for many years.

Bill produced a cup dating from early last century, known as the Campbell Cup and donated by a Mrs F Campbell, given to him by Ron Cubitt. This was played for at the old Tavistock Club, which was located at the far end of Meadowlands near the Drake Statue. The first winner was in 1914. The last winner was Ron in 1949 when the competition ceased with the closure of the old club. The committee are to consider resurrecting it.

Anyone wishing to join the club or play as a visitor can contact 01822 854162 or 01822 614244.