A Market Drayton tennis veteran has put his continuing love of the game down to a healthy lifestyle and a happy marriage.
Gordon Moores celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this month with a family get-together in Cheshire and tenpin bowling in Manchester.
Gordon, of Berrisford Close, Market Drayton, joined the town’s tennis club shortly after moving from Wales 10 years ago and plays with other veterans every Friday morning at the Greenfields Lane site.
“I’ve always been interested in tennis from my early teens and played as much as I could, with a few breaks when other things were happening and I was busy with the house,” he said.
“When I came to Market Drayton, I became a member of the tennis club where I play at least once a week and other times when I can make it. There’s a social side to it and we’ve made some very good friends, but it’s the tennis in particular and the exercise that I like.”
Gordon, a retired insurance broker and financial advisor, has been married to wife Audrey for the past 47 years and they have three sons and four grandchildren.
The couple moved to Market Drayton after running a retreat centre for five years in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and are active members of Market Drayton Methodist Church.
“I did two years’ national service from 1947 to 1949, part of which was in Egypt where I used to play tennis every day on clay courts and I was really getting into the game then,” Gordon said.
“I’m grateful to God for good health and strength and I see myself playing tennis for as long as I can because I have no intention of giving up.”
