WEDNESDAY CLUB: The club gave an enthusiastic welcome to Mr John Baldwin from Ebrington, and to the bottles of wine he brought with him! Mr Baldwin is well-known to several members of the club and is now considered a friend by all of us. He gave a short description of how to make elderflower and elderberry wine (samples provided) and an amusing insight into the perils of 'showing'. The two large trophies proudly on display showed his mastery of all the aspects of his enthralling hobby. Not to be outdone, our own expert Tom Crossley brought along a demijohn of his own delicious apple wine. Amidst all the jollity, the loss of Dorothy Johnson struck a sad note. Her enthusiasm, hard work and liveliness will be much missed. Dorothy had cajoled the club into learning the art of well-dressing and displaying their finished works of art at the Open Gardens Day last year. Full of bright ideas and glowing with goodness, she will be long remembered. Our thoughts are with Stan. The next meeting will take the form of a river trip from Upton to Tewkesbury (and back). A coach will leave the Red Lion at 8.30am and return at about 6.30pm. A long but relaxing day. Any members who have not signed up and would like to come should contact Christine or a member of the committee.

TENNIS CLUB: The club celebrated its 50th birthday on Sunday. There was a large gathering of members who enjoyed friendly matches (before a thunderstorm disrupted play) and a splendid tea organised by the social committee. It was May 12, 1951, that the two grass courts were opened by Mrs Jewsbury on the playing field. It was only a year or so previously that the land had been farm meadows but funds had been raised by a committee headed by her husband Mr P J Jewsbury for the playing field. Within a couple of months of opening (with the great popularity of tennis) the courts were closed because of excessive wear and tear on the new grass. Subscriptions were fixed at 5 shillings (25p in today's money). Dances with a live band were a popular regular feature on the social side and Mr and Mrs Jewsbury even gave dancing lessons to the less sprightly members. Today (with subscriptions at £60 for an all-inclusive family membership) there are excellent all-weather floodlit courts and the game in the village is as popular as ever with an especially thriving junior section. Club nights are on Tuesdays and Thursdays and new members will be welcomed.