A well known North-East tennis personality, Derek Snowdon, who has died age 71, was president of York Lawn Tennis Club and president of Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association in 1990.

Mr Snowdon, who was born in Sunderland, came to York with British Rail in 1951 with his wife Marjorie and they liked the city so much they decided to settle there.

Since then he has been a well known personality on the tennis scene, playing many British Rail tournaments in the Shildon, Darlington and York areas and has also been highly involved as an administrator.

Mr Snowdon was a founder member of York Lawn Club in 1966 and won the York's Municipal Men's Doubles title with Jack Butcher in 1971 and 1972 and the mixed doubles with June Ayres in 1966, 1968, 1971 and 1973.

Mr Snowdon, who refereed the York Municipal tournament, now the City of York championships from 1976 to 1989 was chairman of York LTC from 1968 to 1986 and was then elected president, a position he held up to the time of his sudden death.

He played in the York and District mixed doubles league from its formation in 1958 and was chairman for a number of years.

Mr Snowdon, a life long supporter of Sunderland FC, fulfilled an ambition to run the London Marathon in May 1982. Four months later he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but continued to play tennis, squash, badminton, five-a-side football and going jogging sometimes three of these activities in the same day.

He was employed by British Rail all his working life until taking retirement at Christmas 1985 when he was 55. He died suddenly following a heart attack at his home in Clifton, York. He leaves his wife Marjorie, son Anthony and daughter Glynis.

The funeral service is at Clifton Methodist Church on Friday at 3pm.