Maggie Tyrrell wins LTA Lifetime Achievement Award

Maggie Tyrrell has been awarded the LTA's Avon Tennis Lifetime Achievement Award. Maggie, a stalwart for her tennis club since 1998, when she made the tea while her son played tournaments, has been on the committee at Almondsbury and Bradley Stoke TC for most of that time. She's held many roles at the tennis club since including: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Trustee. She is also the Welfare Officer and takes that very seriously.

Maggie also regularly joins in with club nights as well, and plays on the teams occasionally, and never misses any club event such as tidy up days - she arrives first and stays for longest.

Maggie has been involved with Avon Tennis for years as well, and has given to tennis, not just in the local area, but across the whole county.

One nominee remarked "As referee and tournament organiser she has volunteered above and beyond, for the love of tennis. What Maggie has achieved is even more amazing when you consider that at the same time she has been a very active councillor on Thornbury Town Council. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award."

Maggie arranges many competitions at her club, and is a real believer in allowing youngsters the opportunity to play competitively in their local area. She has also been very supportive of the club's recent push to do 'pay and play' to open tennis to many more people in the local community.

While Chair, Maggie built up a great team. Quite recently she recruited and handed over to another chair, but has stayed involved and is fully supportive of the new chair. She is also the club's official representative on the social club committee (they are our Landlord) and this involves a lot of negotiation and tact. She also oversaw the club's formation as a CIO, and set up the club with constitution and rules, doing all the formal applications with the Charity Commission.

As Welfare Officer, Maggie has made sure that the whole committee are trained, that the coaches are also fully trained. and that members are made aware of the rules. She is keen to allow youngsters to join in with adults as their skills develop, but to find ways of allowing this ensuring they are kept safe.

There are many more details about Maggie Tyrrell's tennis career, which we hope to hear more of in the future.

Congratulations Maggie and a heart felt thank you for your contribution to tennis at club and Avon Tennis level.

Learn more about the LTA awards here.