by Nicola Brown

DRUMCHAPEL Tennis Club had the royal seal of approval on Saturday after welcoming The Duchess of Gloucester.

The Duchess, who is married to The Queen's cousin, The Duke of Gloucester, visited the Glasgow Club as part of her role with the Council of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), keen to see for herself the positive difference local clubs like Drumchapel make within their community.

Run on a voluntary basis by a dedicated small team of tennis enthusiasts, the local club has been held up as a benchmark by the LTA and Tennis Scotland.

Drumchapel Tennis Club Chair Eric Flack, said: “We are delighted to host this visit by Her Royal Highness and it is great to know that all our hard work is being recognised near and far.

"The club has been at the heart of Drumchapel for over a hundred years and we are determined to keep it here for a hundred more. Partnerships are key to that and we’ve had great support from our stakeholders and funding partners.

“We are also very lucky to have a fully committed and engaged committee of volunteers who really understand the importance of giving something back to our community."

Tennis Scotland President David Mazzucco said: “It is good to see a club that has been funded by LTA and Tennis Scotland thriving. They have a vibrant membership with a family focused coaching programme and a great set of volunteers who have helped turn the club around.”

In the past three years the club’s team of volunteers have raised almost £200,000 in funding to refurbish the centre, installing four new courts and modernising the clubhouse.

Their facility is now attracting players of all ages with membership numbers increasing from less than 50 to 200 since the redevelopment work began.