Tributes have been paid at Margate Tennis Club to stalwart member Mike Mayer.

Mr Mayer had suffered from Alzheimer’s for 10 years and died of pneumonia last week at the age of 71.

The former electrical and television engineer was a member of Margate Tennis Club for more than five decades, winning 24 open tournament trophies at the club between 1975 and 1999, in singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions, and playing at Wimbledon.

A total of 13 of the trophies were won playing mixed doubles with his wife, Gaynor.

The couple achieved a Grand Slam over a three-year period, winning every mixed doubles competition they entered across Kent.

Mr Mayer also collected more than 10 trophies in Kent county tennis and 22 Kent Messenger Open tournament trophies between 1980 and 2007.

He competed in the veteran tournament at Wimbledon, where he played Roger Taylor, and represented the county in the over 45s, over 55s and over 60s Kent teams.

Mr Mayer’s last tournament win was in 2007 at the Kent Messenger Open Tournament super vets singles competition.

At this time, he was already suffering with Alzheimer’s.

A personal highlight of his competitive tennis days came at Eastbourne 18 years ago in a family festival tournament. He played in the father and son doubles event with son Steven, defeating their Spanish opponents.

The keen competitor also coached at the club from the early 1980s, passing on many of his skills to up-and-coming club players.

Away from the courts Mr Mayer first worked maintaining the electronic tote at the former Dumpton Park dog track, then ran a business from shops in Ramsgate and then Northdown Road in Cliftonville, before setting up a mobile television repair company.

He was also a keen football player, playing for Honeysuckle Rovers, Astra Rockets, Christchurch, Ramsgate Sporting Youth Club and Nelbarden.

Margate Tennis Club chairman John Taylor said: “Mike Mayer has been an inspiration in sport in Thanet and his name will be remembered at Margate Tennis Club with pride.“

His funeral takes place at noon at Thanet Crematorium on Monday with the procession first driving past the tennis club in Tivoli Park Avenue.