Legends come, and legends go – and some just play tennis for a really long time.
That could be said of Mervyn Tarboton, who, at the age of 85 years old, has decided to hang up his racquet.
This is despite fierce protestations from fellow Umtentweni Tennis Club members not to do so.
He is certainly still striking the ball cleanly and is agile enough around the court.
However, Mervyn has reassured everyone that he will still pop in from time to time.
The club held a small function for him last Saturday, attended by family and friends.
Wet weather threatened to put a damper on things, but in the end, it turned out just perfectly.
Chairman Chris Connellan thanked Mervyn for all his years of service to the club and, fittingly, announced that he had been made a life member.
This all came after a fun curtain-raiser between Mervyn and Justin Hinchliff against Mervyn’s son Ronald and Neil Thomas.
Entertainment was high, the result, not important!
Mervyn has been a member at Umtentweni TC for longer than he can remember and has been enjoying the sport for even longer.
One of his claims to fame was winning the men’s doubles three years in a row with Snakes Snyman from 1982 to 1984.
He also served as chairman in 2011. He explained how there had been a break-in at the clubhouse at some stage and that records were destroyed.
During a short speech, Mervyn recalled how he used to play on a court which is now the site of the Port Shepstone town hall.
He originally joined Paddock as Port Shepstone Country Club only had two courts back then and was too busy.
Finally, Umtentweni TC became his home, and he has spent many happy hours on the courts and off.
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