South Essex's tennis community have said a final farewell to well known player Ron Shelley.

Players and members joined Ron's family for his funeral at Pitsea Crematorium on Monday, following his death from cancer at the age of 63.

Ron started playing at Old Southendian before serving with the Army for seven years, mainly in the Far East.

After leaving the forces in the 1960s, Ron joined Westcliff Hardcourts and was a member of their Essex Junior Cup-winning men's team of 1978.

"Ron was one of those rare people where those who got to know him let him get away with murder because he was a character," said a spokesman for the Hardcourts.

"But he was also intensely loyal to his friends. Someone once through a party and Ron was there dressed up as a barman in tails, serving everyone.

"He used to say he modelled himself on John McEnroe because he was also a left-handed player.

"People used to ask whether it was his playing ability or his temperament; with Ron it was a bit of both!"

Away from the tennis court, Ron worked as a barman and a hairdresser, which included him spending days at Ford's plants cutting workers' hair.

Born and bred in Southend, Ron was never married.

Published Thursday January 8, 2004

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