It's 40-love as Paul Ellis celebrates at Wem Tennis Club
A long-serving tennis player from Shropshire has celebrated his 40th year playing for Wem Tennis Club by helping them win promotion in the Shropshire Men's Doubles League.
Paul Ellis, now aged 64, was part of the men's doubles team which went unbeaten for the second straight season to earn a place in division two.
The Oswestry-born player first started playing for the club in 1972 after moving to the area because of work.
The former North Shropshire Council worker, who retired two years ago, got the tennis bug as a teenager and he has no plans to put down his racket just yet after his latest milestone season.
"I started playing when I was 16 or 17," he said. "My father Gilbert Ellis co-founded Weston Rhyn Tennis Club so I got the bug from there. I concentrate on doubles now for obvious reasons but I still enjoy going round the various clubs in Shropshire.
"We are in division two next year and as long as my legs keep carrying me I will carry on playing," he said.
Ellis has been chairman and men's captain several times and he counts as one of his highlights winning the men's singles competition at Wem 25 years ago.
Another was gaining promotion this year. "We had some difficult matches this season but just managed to win them all. It was nice to get promoted in my 40th year," he said.
Unbeaten Wem confirmed promotion with a 3-1 victory over High Arcal, their second consecutive promotion.
