Tennis veterans serve an ace for St Catherine’s with a total donation of £10,000

The annual Preston & District Veterans Tennis Tournament, attracting players from across the Ribble and the Fylde, has served St Catherine’s Hospice an incredible ace after raising a total of £10,000 for the Lostock Hall charity.

The event now organised by Anne Carter of Broughton Tennis Club started as an Open doubles event in 1985 and in 1994 three handicapped doubles events were added. From 1992 the Preston Vets organiser, Pat Dickinson, ran it as a charity tournament which has, since then, directed all its entry fees to St Catherine’s.

John Moxham of Mercers, Preston was the original sponsor until 2013 when Anne Carter took over from Pat after 19 years at the helm, and Michael Bailey of Bailey’s Financial Services in Whitestake and Guy Topping of Barton Grange Garden Centre took over the sponsorship baton. The finals, which are held in October each year, are hosted by Broughton and District Club Tennis Section.

Organiser Anne Carter said: “The aim of the competition is to give players over 45 years of age from the Ribble/Fylde clubs an opportunity to play social competitive tennis, meet new people and keep fit whilst helping St Catherine’s. I am delighted and surprised that we have achieved a donation of just over £10,000 during the lifetime of the tournament. Testament to all of those who have made a contribution – in whatever way – over the years.”

Anyone wishing to enter the competition in 2020 should email the organiser at prestonveteranstennis@gmail.com

Emma Jacovelli, head of community engagement at St Catherine’s, accepted the donation on the charity’s behalf. She said: “We are very grateful for yet another wonderful donation from the Preston & District Veterans Tennis Tournament.

“It is great to see people having so much fun raising funds for St Catherine’s. The donation will help fund our specialised care for those facing life-shortening illnesses in our local community.”

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