TOM MASON, a former York tennis champion, has died in Florence Nightingale Hospice, Stoke Mandeville, after a long illness. He was 84.

Mr Mason, who had suffered from prostate cancer, was born in Alnwick, moving to live in York in 1950 when he worked at British Rail headquarters.

A member of Tang Hall and York Railway Institute Tennis clubs, he was runner-up with Merlin Morgan to Joe Ellis and Bill Shaw 8-6 6-2 in York Municipal men's doubles final in 1952. They were again runners-up in 1955, being beaten 6-3 6-3 by Jim Shields and Leslie Leppington. They became champions two years later, beating Eric White and Brian Minks 6-4 7-5 in the final.

He later became president of Warwickshire LTA, in which capacity he attended Wimbledon finals.

Updated: 10:44 Saturday, March 23, 2002