THE president of Ben Rhydding Sports Club, Andrew Musgrave, has paid tribute to former club president and life member Trevor Grange, who passed away on Friday, October 20.

Mr Grange died in Airedale Hospital after suffering a stroke. His funeral will be on Thursday, November 9 in St John's Church, Ben Rhydding, at 11am, followed by a private service at the Crematorium in Skipton and then at Ben Rhydding Sports Club.

Mr Musgrave said Mr Grange first came to the club in 1957 when he approached Peter Richardson enquiring if he could join the Tennis Section. "He quickly established himself in the team playing in the men’s doubles with Paul Anning as his regular partner," Mr Musgrave said. "In those days, the club was in a Yorkshire Tennis League playing sides such as Scarborough, York and Sheffield. A few years later he started playing in the mixed doubles, his wife Iris also played in the same mixed team.

"Trevor first started his work on the grounds about 1965, helping the then groundsman by marking out the Tennis Courts, to make sure the lines were straight! He continued his work for Tennis and became President which he held for many years and when the membership dropped he combined the top role with being Treasurer as well!

"He was Ben Rhydding Sports Club President from 1979-82 and following that started playing Cricket about 1982 in the 2nd Team and a little later started coaching the juniors. The coaching was to continue for many years and I know many of us received advice long after our junior days were over, and more often than not he was right! For all his work with Cricket Trevor was made a Life Member in 2002.

"He took over the job of looking after the grounds in 1990 and served in that role for 25 years, stepping down only two years ago, even then he remained involved helping Peter Taylor. He used his extensive knowledge to ensure that all the machinery was kept in the best possible working order. He kept notes on all the maintenance and costs that were required in very neat hand writing.

"He joined the Bowls section about 20 years ago, which roughly coincided with his retirement from Spooners in Ilkley where he had worked since moving into the area. He was just as passionate about playing as he was in maintaining the green, often to be heard talking with fellow players during a game or coaching those who had just joined!

"Croquet is a relatively new section to the Sports Club and it was Trevor who approached the committee with the idea of sharing the Tennis Courts with Croquet. Grass type and length were compatible and it meant we could continue to maintain the whole area and get a much better use of it than from Tennis alone which of course Trevor would help to maintain. That was seven years ago and in 2014 Trevor joined the section to play which he thoroughly enjoyed.

"I have received many notes during the last week expressing appreciation and memories about Trevor and the work he did for us all during the last 60 years. He touched the lives of many many people over the decades he was at the Sports Club, nurturing the grounds that he came to know and love. He served us so well, conscientiously turning out in all weathers, laying out the courts, endless cutting, tidying, marking out courts and pitches and doing all the things necessary to enable us to play. Many will not have appreciated the endless work necessary to keep the grounds at the standard they are still today, it was largely his dedication and determination that ensured we got, and still get, so many compliments on how good they are.

"Thank you Trevor – R.I.P. we will all miss you."