MEMBERS of a leading Malvern sports club gathered to pay tribute to their retiring chairman.

Dr Michael Vaughan is leaving the district after 23 years at the head of the Manor Park Club in Albert Road North.

Although he is moving away from the district, he will stay a trustee of the club and will also retain part-time contact with DERA, his former employers.

During Dr Vaughan's term of office he steered the club through a series of major developments, including the squash courts, the indoor bowls hall, tennis hall and the acrylic and all-weather tennis courts.

All the club's sporting sections were represented at the gathering last Friday (May 25), along with officials from 18 Plus, the Malvern Table Tennis League and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Lawn Tennis Association, which is based at the club.

Les Thomas, the club's recently-elected president, said how much the membership and residents of Malvern and district owed to Dr Vaughan for his sterling and dedicated efforts during his chairmanship.

Dr Vaughan was presented with a print of the Malvern Hills. In his response, he thanked everyone who had given their time to help him achieve his goals, particularly bodies such as Malvern Hills District Council, the Lotteries Board and the Lawn Tennis Association.

He went on to say how pleasing it was that public pay-and-play was finally established within the club and acknowledged the fact that various sections were still encouraging new members, who form the backbone of the club.