IT was the year Budge Patty was the Wimbledon men’s champion and Louise Brough won the ladies’ title.

War in Korea was raging; the mass production of computers began and the first organ transplant took place.

And in south-east Essex, 1950 saw the formation of the Leigh & Westcliff Lawn Tennis Associa-tion.

The association was the brainchild of James Gilbert, who wanted to provide competitive tennis for players of all levels who were members of small clubs with one or two courts.

Sixty years on, the Leigh & Westcliff is celebrating its diamond jubilee and is now believed to be the largest LTA in the country, boasting 866 registered men players and 624 ladies.

“In the early days it was just the one league, but since then it has grown out of all proportions,” said league secretary Dave Lincoln.

“The association has doubled in size in the last 16 years and we are now in a position where we are having to turn people away.

“The reason they come here is that they can have a couple of hours of friendly tennis in the evening. They do not want to play all day long and like the format.

“It is also a friendly association and players do not have too far to travel for away matches.

“We give them what they want and when there are problems, we get them sorted out.”

From its small beginnings for one and two-court clubs, the Leigh & Westcliff has attracted the larger clubs in south-east Essex, such as Thorpe Bay, Westcliff Hard and Westcliff Lawn.

The growth in member clubs to the current 17 has also seen an increase in the quality of tennis played.

“Years ago Leigh & Westcliff was for the lower level of players, but as the years have gone on, the bigger clubs have joined us and the standard has gone up,” Dave added.

“A lot of people tell me that our first and second divisions are level with divisions two and three in the Essex leagues.” The league was formed in the summer of 1950 with eight clubs: St Peter’s, Kent Elms, Crowstone, Leigh Road Baptist, Brookside, Leigh Wesley, Oakleigh and St Mary’s, of which the first four are still members.

Competition took the format of The League, consisting of a men’s, ladies’ and mixed pairing, and this unique format still continues in the summer season.

Doubles were added in 1951, gentlemen’s leagues in 1970 and ladies’ leagues in 1985. Winter competitions started in the 1986/87 season.

Summer club knockout competitions began in May 1964 with the Jubilee Cup for men and the Jubilee Bowl for ladies. The Jubilee Shield for mixed doubles followed in 1988.

But what of the future? Dave said the league was reaching saturation point and despite 2009 being Leigh & Westcliff’s worst year, with five teams from Rochford leaving to join Chelmsford & District, six new teams had still joined.

“It is court availability that is the problem,” Dave added. “Many clubs are limited with the amount of time that they can put it, but Rayleigh are getting floodlights and that will help them.”

Whatever happens, the dedicated committee and players will ensure that the Leigh & Westcliff will continue to flourish for many more years to come.