The club held a special training session at its base in the TA centre on Hallcroft Road, Retford, on Wednesday 21st November and presentations were made to the longest serving duo on the management committee.

Des Vallance has been running the judo club for 25 years as the chairman and June Hirst has assisted him as secretary for 20 of those years.

Both were given gifts after the club's two-hour training session and the club itself was also presented with a pair of accolades.

British Judo Association regional development manager Graham Bailey awarded the club with the Sport England 'Clubmark' and the association's own Club Recognition Award.

Assistant head coach, Dean Quartermaine, has been involved at the club since 1984 and said it was a special night.

He said: "It was a good night, there were a lot of parents down at the club to watch the training session, we had around 45 or 50 people there."

Dean believes the future is bright for one of the region's oldest martial arts clubs.

"We've been successful in grant applications to Nottinghamshire Community Fund in order to pay for some new mats so we can take judo into the community."

"We're trying to build the club back up to what it was and we're looking ahead with the aim of attending a competition every month, sending a good sized team."

The club began half a century ago, on 24th November 1957, in the function room of a pub, before moving to the canteen of Clark's Laundry. Since 1963 the club has been based at the Territorial Army centre on Hallcroft Road.

Further 50th birthday celebrations will take place tomorrow night at the Market Hotel in Retford, with a dinner-dance.