Life member continues tennis dynasty

The ongoing contribution of the Bairstow family to the Merrifield Park Tennis Club was recognised on Saturday with the fifth family member inducted as a life member to the club.

Club captain Les Bairstow was awarded life membership after his 40 years of involvement in the club’s 57-year history.

Mr Bairstow’s life membership follows his uncle and aunty Ray and Nancy Hall nee Bairstow and late parents Fred and Mavis Bairstow, who passed away in the past two years.

The stalwart said he was shocked but honoured to receive the recognition on a special day for the club last Saturday.

“It meant a heck of a lot to me,” he said.

“To be awarded life membership on our remembrance day for our life members was pretty special.”

Fred Bairstow was the club’s first life member awarded in the 1980s after the club was established in 1959.

Les Bairstow said the club had always been a family affair.

“My association goes back to when I was a kid,” he said.

“All we did was go to the club on a Saturday afternoon to watch my parents play and it has carried on.”

Club president Rex Beach said the Bairstows had been an integral part of the club since its inception.

“His parents Mavis and Fred are life members, without the Bairstows, they really kept the club going,” Mr Beach said.

“It is outstanding he has been involved in the club for so many years.

“He has been the club captain for a very long time ... he is the life and soul of the club.”