Bryan Turner was the toast of Luton and Vauxhall Tennis centre in May as he clocked up his 65th year as a member of the town’s thriving tennis club. The losing Finalist in the club’s 1950 Men Singles’ Final was joined by long-standing friends and family as the great and good of Bedfordshire tennis gathered to acknowledge one of their longest-serving players.
“Tennis has been good to me down the years and I have made so many great friends during my time at Vauxhall,” said an emotional Turner. “The club’s courts have moved three times during my 65 years here, but the spirit we have always had has lived on.”
Bryan has defied doctors to continue to play the game he loves twice a week into his 84th year, with his remarkable recovery from the club foot condition he was born with leading medical experts at the time to suggest he would struggle to walk.
“They didn’t have the sort of treatment we are used to know in the hospitals when I was a kid and I’m sure a few doctors back in the day would not have expected me to be playing tennis for as long as I have. I’ve been very fortunate,” added Bryan.
Luton and Vauxhall Tennis club has seen a surge in membership figures over the last 18 months and they will be holding an open day that will offer discounted joining fees for any budding Wimbledon hopefuls of the future on Saturday 3rd July.