Flying ace is still serving up aces at 87

Bomber Command veteran George Burt is still serving aces at 87 after spending more than 72 years tackling opponents on the tennis court.

Mr Burt, from Cannock, played tennis all over the world while in the RAF.

And he still takes his racket on holiday to have a game. His sporting life doesn't end there – he was also a footballer in the Welsh league playing the beautiful game for 38 years, a football referee in Egypt and an avid cricket player. His inspiration to get into sport came from his doctor after he almost died from pneumonia.

Mr Burt, of Rowencroft, Price Street, said: "When I was nine the doctor told me to get out in the fresh air, and play football, cricket and tennis, and that would help me get better, and since then I've played them all my life."

He first got involved with tennis through Cannock Boys' Club in 1936 before continuing it during his RAF career. He joined the air force in 1941.

No-one thought he would get in because of his poor health earlier on in childhood but Mr Burt believes the doctor's sports advice paid off. Over the course of his remarkable RAF career he got his initial training at Selwyn and Clare Colleges in Cambridge University, went to South Africa for flying training and as a rear gunner in Bomber Command he did 37 bombing flights over Germany.

In September 1944 he became a commissioned flying officer for five years and after the war decommissioned bases in Barrow, Cark and Millom and then moved the gear to Anglesey in North Wales before his final posting to Egypt.

He said: "I prefer playing singles to doubles. I can do my own thing but with doubles you're playing for your partner. In the last 12 months of my time in the RAF I was playing tennis in Egypt everyday in 108C.

"It is something I'm proud of. It's kept myself going especially when my wife passed away nine years ago and at my age I'm not in bad shape."

He still plays once a week in various places including Cannock Chase Leisure Centre.