A DEDICATED tennis coach from Wistaston who helped thousands of youngsters and club regulars develop their skills has been remembered.

Alan Jones, who passed away on July 17 aged 88, was a familiar face at Wistaston Jubilee Tennis Club and Nantwich Tennis Club.

He served as a county coach in Cheshire for many years, featured on the veterans circuit, including playing at Wimbledon, and he was still turning out on court well into his eighties.

He and his wife, Margaret, once also ran a business supplying tennis equipment. Up until recent times local players called on Alan for advice and help from his trusted racket-stringing machine.

Margaret said: "He built up a self-employed coaching business over 15 years. Alan was passionate about the sport and coaching it the right way.

"He enjoyed playing and played up to Covid. We went abroad and he played in national competitions for the over-70s and over-75s.

"I remember him playing on Court 18 at Wimbledon in a veterans' tournament, and at Eastbourne too. He coached at MatchPoint centres as well as at MMU Cheshire."

Margaret frequently joined her husband on the circuit, starting off at Nantwich where Alan provided individual tuition and ran the LTA Star Club with his wife.

Later he took his coaching skills and an eye for promising talent to Wistaston's Church Lane courts, close to his home.

"He could be quite firm in his approach and he always said he couldn't help any 'lazy children', they had to put in some effort," said his wife.

"Alan helped a lot of young people, and older ones too, get on their way with tennis. He kept in contact with one or two of the ladies at Wistaston and Nantwich after he stopped coaching and they all remember Alan."

Alan was also a keen golfer, playing regularly as a member at the Hill Valley Club near Whitchurch, while he played bowls for Wistaston MH Bowling Club.

He also excelled at karaoke and loved getting suited and booted for a good singsong in the style of his favourite crooner, Frank Sinatra.

"A year before Covid he was still playing in the [bowls] teams," recalled his wife. "He was still playing tennis and if he saw children on court he'd go and give them a helping hand.

"Covid had its effect in that he wasn't able to carry on keeping himself fit and he became quite frail."

Alan's funeral was a simple one at Swanlow Park Cemetery near Winsford, where he was buried in his pre-chosen plot in a woodland grave underneath a tree.

"Alan didn't want a fuss, he didn't want a big funeral," said Margaret.

The funeral arrangements were made by Steven Linde of Crewe Funeral Services.