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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'We saved our tennis club by buying it ourselves' | 'We saved our tennis club by buying it ourselves' |
| (7 days later) | |
| The tennis club was under threat when the land was put up for sale to the highest bidder | The tennis club was under threat when the land was put up for sale to the highest bidder |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. | |
| Karen Standen said her parents - Kath and Trevor Ford - would have wanted to save the club | Karen Standen said her parents - Kath and Trevor Ford - would have wanted to save the club |
| About half of the tennis club's 50 members then paid smaller amounts. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "If they'd been alive then they would surely have put the money forward to help secure this wonderful facility we've got." |
| Karen Standen has been coming to the club since she was born | Karen Standen has been coming to the club since she was born |
| The members have set up a limited company called TK & K Ltd, which takes its name from the initials of Karen and her parents. | 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 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | "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. | Trevor stopped playing towards the end of his life, but used to watch until the week before he died, aged 88, in 2021. |
| The tennis and cricket clubs will both continue to use the grounds in Brayfield Road, Littleover | The tennis and cricket clubs will both continue to use the grounds in Brayfield Road, Littleover |
| As well as saving the tennis club, they will allow Derby Congs Cricket Club to continue using the grounds. | 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. | 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. | 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've not stopped playing it since," he said. |
| "I bring my daughter down, she says she wants to play tennis when she grows up." | "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. | 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 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." | "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 said she had made lots of friends through playing there | Club secretary Gail Bromley said she had made lots of friends through playing there |
| Club secretary Gail Bromley, who has been coming to the club for 20 years, wants to encourage more women to join. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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." |
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