EVESHAM Rowing Club chairman John Lomas has stepped down as chairman after more than 30 years of service to the club.

Lomas was appointed chairman back in 1993 after his predecessor Pat Burton suffered a heart attack, becoming the first non-rower to hold the role.

A passion for tennis led Lomas, and his wife Sue, to join the riverside club – which hosts tennis and squash sections alongside the rowing – when they moved to Evesham in 1978.

Since then, the talented sportsman has worked tirelessly to develop the three sporting sections into one thriving club.

"Both my wife and I were reasonable tennis players," he said. "I was a qualified coach and played to near county standard and played for the Club first team for 30 years.

"I became Tennis Captain during the 80s and sat on the executive committee."

Lomas was captain of the tennis section for four years from 1987 and was acting club secretary during 1992.

He has also been membership secretary and club secretary at times when no-one else volunteered to take on the role before becoming club chairman in 1993.

"After being elected I told the meeting how honoured I felt, but I wanted to let everyone know that I would do my utmost to progress the club as one club, and not three separate sporting sections.” he said.

"That was, and still is to this day, my sincere belief."

During his time at ERC, Lomas has kept a firm eye on development across the three sports.

He was instrumental in organising the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Ratings Tournament from 1987 to 1993. In 1989 the first tennis floodlights were installed while he was tennis captain.

He also spearheaded the effort to secure funding of more than £0.5 million for the club from the National Lottery, the LTA and Wychavon District Council to redevelop the club in 2005.

In 2011 John was presented with the LTA Meritorious Service Award for an outstanding lifetime contribution to tennis by former GB number one, Greg Rusedski.

He saw the club successfully re-open following the devastating floods of 1998 and 2007 – which included rebuilding the tennis section from an all-time low of just 20 members to a thriving group of 120 players.

In 2013 John led the celebrations for the club’s 150th anniversary. John is succeeded as chairman by rower Simon Edwards, who said; "All club members past and present have so much to be thankful for as a result of John’s incredible 30 years dedication to the club and we wish both John and Sue all the best in the future."