Ed Gladstone continues to inspire members of the New Westminster Tennis Club.
Gladstone continues to rack up time on tennis courts in New Westminster and Burnaby, even though he's 99 years of age. Members of the New Westminster Tennis Club gathered at the Tipperary Park club recently to celebrate the milestone.
Club president Don Campbell said Gladstone is an inspiration to other members.
"Turning 99 in itself is an amazing accomplishment, but still playing tennis regularly makes Ed even more special, and he proves that tennis can indeed be a sport for life," he said. "Looking at Ed's long list of achievements and contributions to the sport of tennis in B.C. over his life, we are obviously really honoured to have him as a member of the New Westminster Tennis Club. Ed is really looking forward to next year when he celebrates his 100th on the tennis courts. Stay tuned."
On a recent day, Gladstone played more than three-and-a-half hours in one day, after hitting the courts in Burnaby in the morning and at the New West club in the evening.
Gladstone, a Burnaby resident, joined the New Westminster Tennis Club in 1931. Born in England, he started playing tennis when he was seven years old, and continued to play after moving to Canada with his parents in 1917 - including some time playing on a court his father built in their Burnaby backyard.
During his life, he's played some of the greatest players in the world, including Donald Budge, a six-time Grand Slam winner.
"I played him - I didn't beat him," Gladstone told The Record in 2008. "He showed me a few things. This was in the 1940s, early 1950s. That was a thrill."
The New Westminster Tennis Club named Gladstone an honorary member in 2006 in recognition of his long history of contributions to the sport and his achievements as a player.
These include being Tennis B.C.'s Volunteer of the Year in 1988, winning the B.C. Senior Tennis singles title in 1996, and winning 37 medals in men's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles at the World Senior Games from 1988 to 2002.
2002. For more information about the New Westminster Tennis Club visit www. nwtennis.com.
tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
tmcmanus@ royalcityrecord.com.
