It’s probably quite a good job that Peter Gold has now retired because he does play quite a lot of tennis.

The chairman of Twyning Tennis Club – he’s held the position for some five years – is a big fan of the sport and is one of those hardy souls who likes to play all the year round.

With more clubs now having floodlights – Twyning have two floodlit hardcourts and have use of a third court which isn’t floodlit – most of the keen members play from January through to December.

Gold, who is 67, is certainly one of those and as well as playing in the Gloucestershire Summer League – the club run two men’s teams and three ladies’ teams – he also plays for one of the club’s two mixed teams in the Gloucestershire Winter League.

And Twyning Tennis Club is certainly a busy club.

“We have social tennis on Monday morning, junior coaching after school, followed by cardio tennis and team tennis on Monday nights,” said Gold.

“Tuesday and Thursday nights and Sunday mornings sees social tennis. Friday morning is coaching, while Wednesday and Friday nights and Sunday afternoons are reserved for league matches.

“I’m usually playing three or four times a week.”

It helps that his wife Linda is also a very keen tennis player and they play in the same mixed doubles team. So do they pair up?

“Oh no,” said Peter very quickly, “that doesn’t work!”

And while that may be true, the tennis club certainly does work even though it has only been in existence since the early part of this century.

The club, which is based in Kilmore Lane, has between 60 and 65 members and is in pretty rude health.

Sarah Bennison and Natalie O’Brien are the club’s coaches and Gold said the club have “half-a-dozen very good players”.

They play in the A teams in the summer and in the winter and Gold added: “In the last four years we have won successive promotions.”

Gold has lived in Twyning for the past 35 years and he joined the tennis club 13 years ago.

And those who play at the club are certainly pleased he did because after joining the committee he has gone on to take on one of the lead roles at the club.