Both past and present members of the Driffield Lawn Tennis Club gathered for the event at the town’s rugby club on Sunday.

The guests were welcomed by the club’s current president, Anne Farnsworth and thanked for attending by chairman David Hall.

Penny Walker was also thanked for her work to organise the celebrations.

Among the guests was guest speaker, Hon Alderman Tony Naylor, a former president of both the club and the Driffield and District Tennis League.

And two current club members both had their own personal reasons for joining the celebrations.

Peter Atkinson has now been a member for 70 years, while Simon Dawson has marked 50 consecutive years of play for the club.

Believed to be one of the oldest tennis clubs in the country, the Driffield LTC, which has its base on Bridlington Road, was originally founded in 1879.

But the anniversary celebrations have only taken place this year because no annual general meetings were held during the years of the Second World War.

At least two of the courts were maintained for play during the war years, though the club did its bit for the war effort as spare ground, except the courts, was dug up to provide allotment space for growing food.

The club also hosted a number of tea days each season, as well as annual tennis and croquet tournaments.

This year is also significant as it marks the 60th anniversary of the season in which the club first entered a men’s and mixed team into local leagues.

Today, a total of four men’s teams, four ladies’ teams and four mixed sides continue to represent the thriving club in district competition.

The club also continues to maintain its grass courts, despite a growing use of alternative hard court surfaces elsewhere.