The celebration of 50 years of tennis in Milton Keynes had been postponed from 2007 to enable the opening of the courts to coincide with the 50th anniversary celebrations.

After a week of rain club members were relieved to have a dry if not sunny day for the event.

The juniors, led by head coach Gary Wakefield and his team of helpers, began the celebrations with a display of ball skills and match play.

They impressed both parents and club members with their skills and enthusiasm and with these youngsters coming up through the ranks the club can look forward to a successful future.

Unfortunately president David Higgs, one of the founder members of the club, was unable to attend, so the court opening was performed by Tony Clarke a close friend of David's and a former groundsman at Milton Keynes.

The Milton Keynes TC began as a men's only hard-court club in Bletchley, and when the leisure centre was built over their courts, club members were forced to play on municipal courts with poor facilities.

When the new town of Milton Keynes was set up they were able to become part of the Milton Keynes Sports Club and took over the Woughton Playing Fields site. They also became a club open to both men and women.

They were delighted to have a number of former members return to help with the celebrations and the collection of old photographs was a source of much comment and some amusement.

After refreshments the tennis began and the young men took up the challenge of playing with the old wooden racquets that Kathy Sumpter had been collecting, and all acquitted themselves remarkably well.

Meanwhile former members joined in with the general play and all enjoyed a happy afternoon of tennis and reminiscences.