A LOCAL badminton club has smashed a milestone with its 75th anniversary.

Ross-on-Wye Badminton Club started life in 1950 at the Drill Hall in Alton Road where there was a single court and a membership of around 25 people.

From the start, the club was one of the largest in the Wyedean league, but it also played in the Hereford League, and more recently in the Gloucestershire League to increase competitive play.

In its early days, badminton racquets were made of wood and when the shuttle hit the frame a foul shot (or wood) had to be called.

If a service clipped the top of the net it became a 'let'. Neither of these rules apply now. Carbon fibre (graphite) is now the main material which makes racquets lighter and more manageable making the need for presses to keep them straight, obsolete.

The rule 75 years ago was that you could only play in competitions wearing only white clothing. Gradually colours crept in, but you still had to wear predominately white, and now, anything goes.

In January 1981 the club moved to the new sports hall at John Kyrle, where they have played continuously ever since.

For the club’s 50th anniversary, a fun tournament was held for past and present members.

In February 2006 the club celebrated playing at the same sports hall for 25 years with another fun tournament.

There have been more significant changes such as the scoring rule which the Badminton Federation changed in August 2006 in order to add extra excitement to the game.

But for 75 years Ross Badminton Club has provided the opportunity to play competitive sport in the town and are marking the event with a celebratory buffet and skittles afternoon on May 18.

The club are hoping that 'old' members might would like to attend and rekindle their interest.