'We saved our tennis club by buying it ourselves'

When the land used by a 102-year-old tennis club was put up for sale, its members feared that would be the end of the club forever.

The grounds were owned by a Derby church, which decided to sell them to the highest bidder for more than £250,000.

The tennis club members initially thought there was no way they could afford to buy the land, but against all odds they have managed to raise the money.

One of them even used her inheritance to buy a major share in honour of her parents, who played at the club for most of their lives.

About half of the tennis club's 50 members then paid smaller amounts.

Following the change of ownership, Central United Reform Church (CURC) Tennis Club has been renamed Littleover Valley Tennis Club.

Karen Standen, leader of the consortium and the major contributor, said it was what her parents would have wanted.

"I'm really pleased we have been able to secure it with my inheritance from them, and they've got a bit of a legacy here now, for everybody to remember them by," she said.

"If they'd been alive then they would surely have put the money forward to help secure this wonderful facility we've got."

The members have set up a limited company called TK & K Ltd, which takes its name from the initials of Karen and her parents.

Trevor and Kath Ford originally met as teenagers when they were both members of the church youth club.

Trevor taught Kath to play tennis at the club, their love deepened and they got married.

"This was like our second home, I've been coming since I was born," said Karen.

"We used to wait until everybody had finished playing and then I would go and play with my dad and my brother would play with my mum."

Trevor was treasurer for 65 years and Kath was secretary.

"Originally they were grass courts and my dad used to come and mow them and mark them out, and my mum did the teas and things like that," said Karen.

Kath played at the club until the year she died, aged 83, in 2018.

"I used to say to them, 'if I'm your age and I can throw the ball up and serve I'll be well chuffed'," said Karen.

Trevor stopped playing towards the end of his life, but used to watch until the week before he died, aged 88, in 2021.

As well as saving the tennis club, they will allow Derby Congs Cricket Club to continue using the grounds.

And now the future of the tennis club has been secured, they are hoping to attract new members.

Paul Nash, who joined the club five years ago, said tennis had helped him get through the Covid pandemic.

"I've not stopped playing it since," he said.

"I bring my daughter down, she says she wants to play tennis when she grows up."

He said the club currently had members aged from five to 85.

"We want to develop a youth training programme and we've recently started talking about youth clubs and things," said Paul.

"We would really welcome new members, especially the younger generation; we want to develop this club and really make a go of it."

Club secretary Gail Bromley, who has been coming to the club for 20 years, wants to encourage more women to join.

"We're looking at expanding on the club so we'd like a lot more members," she said.

"It's great for your fitness, it's great for mental health, it's such a beautiful place, and I've made a lot of friends here at tennis.

"Even in the winter we're all down here, on a Saturday and Sunday, even in the rain we put our hats on and we once played in the snow, which was a bit mad."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.