A tennis group is marking its hundredth anniversary after first forming as a club for nearby paper mill workers.
Those working at the Imperial Paper Mills (IPM), in Gravesend, first established their new sports ground at what was just a meadow, off Milton Road, in 1924.
The IPM was founded in 1911 and as common with other larger employers created sports facilities for its workers and had a football team, bowls club, athletics facilities and tennis club.
The sports ground was initially based at Rosherville, near the paper mill, but in 1923, it moved to where the tennis club is still playing today.
It was not until 1980 when Gravesend Rugby Club took over the Rectory Field site as the paper mill was dismantled.
What was then the IPM Tennis Club became known as Gravesham Tennis Club.
Now, one hundred years later, the sports organisation has eight tennis courts on the rugby club’s grounds in Donald Biggs Drive.
The club marked the milestone with a centenary party which included games of social tennis and the fast-growing sport pickleball.
Members also brought along wooden rackets to recreate what it would have been like to play in the 1920s and were also joined by the deputy mayor of Gravesham council, Cllr Jenny Wallace.
Chairman of Gravesham Tennis Club, John Stevenson, said: “I would like to thank all of our members, volunteers and special guests who made this such a truly special occasion as we mark a century of tennis played right here.
“But while we reflect on the past, we are also firmly focused on the future with our new award-winning head coach and exciting ideas to level up our offering, whether it be with new sports like pickleball or with further improvements to our facilities.
“This is a fantastic time to get involved at Gravesham Tennis Club.”
The club was presented with a commissioned plaque to make a hundred years of tennis being played there by the president of Kent Tennis, Mary Evans.
She said: “You have got a very positive programme running here. It is wonderful to see what you are coming up with.
“Having been here for the first time in 1986, and seeing all the improvements since then, I think Gravesham Tennis Club is really looking up.
“There is a lovely atmosphere here and, talking to some of your members, they feel the family element of it is so important.”
Gravesham Tennis Club welcomes adults, junior players and families of all ages and abilities to take to the courts.
