SETTRINGTON Tennis Club is preparing to mark its 40th anniversary this summer.

The club was founded in 1976 by Everard Windle, then the headteacher of the village school, with the help of a hard-working committee of members.

The ground was part of a field given to the village by the current Lord Middleton's grandfather, as a recreation area.

Anne Baron, one of the founding members, said: "We started with one grass court and a club was formed, proving very popular with people of all ages."

She added that during the summers, "a lot of enjoyable tennis took place...as well as sampling Everard's home-brew".

In time, a second grass court was added, then after a few wet seasons and some fundraising, the courts were turned into hard-surface courts.

Of the founding members, three are still in the club, with two playing and one retired due to injury - Ms Baron, John Morley and Jackie Lamb.

The club has evolved and changed with time. Throughout its 40-year history, the club has gone from casual tennis to entering teams into the Scarborough, Hovingham and Driffield leagues, and to this day is entering the latter two. It is also playing competitively within the club for five different trophies.

The club is for the people of the village, but for the surrounding area too, including places like Thorpe Bassett and Rillington.

The tennis club is currently facing something of a membership challenge. "We need new faces," said Ms Baron. Over the years membership has fluctuated, once standing at more than 100 members with a waiting list. However, like many clubs, this number has shrunk. "But there has always been a strong backbone of members keeping the club going over the years," Ms Baron added.

The club is family-friendly, encouraging junior memberships and each summer arranging coaching for junior members. "The club is always looking for new members," said Ms Baron. Senior membership is £40, with junior membership £12 and visitors paying £2.

The 40th anniversary celebration will take place in the summer, and the club aim to track down former members in the hope that they may come along.