I refer to Cleland Newton's letter (Your Letters, January 20) on relative club membership size. I think both clubs in their own way have achieved huge progress.

Malvern RFC 40 years ago hadn't two pennies to rub together, no clubhouse, no ground. The worst job of the week was the trip to the middle of a muddy field at Cales Farm to struggle to ignite the boiler in the early morning to get water warm enough for the team bath after the Saturday game.

Teams used cars to a rented pitch some miles away, returning wet and muddy to the chagrin of the proud car owners. Coarse Rugby at its best.

Manor Park, at that time, was primarily a very smart, well run, slightly aloof, tennis and squash club, of long standing, considerable status and prosperity, with its own extensive grounds and facilities, and the centre of social sports activities in the Malvern area.

Today both clubs have expanded, each chosen their appropriate path, both now with superb facilities to serve our community and now stand as examples of vision and enormous effort from their respective management teams. Well done to both!

Tony Brook, Montpelier Rd, Malvern.