Barbara Jones from Marlborough Tennis was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Wiltshire Lawn Tennis Association at their AGM last week. The award was presented by the president of Wiltshire LTA, Sir Geoffrey Owen.
Barbara told marlborough.news, “When I was told I was nominated for the award I was surprised and even more surprised to be the winner out of the whole of Wiltshire. I’ve enjoyed tennis all my life, since I first started playing aged ten. It’s an honour to receive the award and nice to have some recognition of all the hard work I’ve put in.”
Barbara comes from an old Marlborough family that she can trace back to the 1800s. She first started playing tennis on Marlborough Grammar School courts which were situated on Elcot Lane. She joined Marlborough Tennis in the early seventies when the club played on three grass courts at the top of Kingsbury Street.
Barbara has been a key member of Marlborough Tennis for over fifty years. She has had many different roles such as: chair, secretary, committee member, captain, junior coaching admin and treasurer. She has helped the club develop from a small club of fifty to a thriving concern of over two hundred members.
She has spent many years managing junior teams, taking them to matches and encouraging the next generation of players. More recently she has run the club’s social tennis sessions growing it from a handful of players on a Sunday morning to regularly filling the courts on a Sunday and Monday evening.
Hilda Moore, chair of Marlborough Tennis said, “She supports players and encourages a fun and engaging environment for everyone who attends. Our club would not have grown and transitioned to its new facilities so successfully without her smiling positive energy and support.”
Although Barbara stopped playing match tennis two years ago due to a back injury, she is still very much an active member and her interest in tennis has not waned.
She has seen many changes over the years. “Tennis is an all year round sport now whereas it used to be summer only. I still think of it as a seasonal sport and prefer a warm court to a freezing cold one!”
“The new Marlborough courts are lovely and in a stunning setting. They play very well and the landscaping of the area has started. It is a bonus having the use of the social facilities of the golf club. Having our own courts means that more coaching is on offer.”
Barbara is keen to encourage the next generation of tennis players and is pleased that her five grandsons have all shown an interest in tennis.
She believes tennis is a sport for life. “You can play well into old age and if you move location join a tennis club and you’ll have a readymade social network.”
Barbara will now be entered into the regional lifetime achievement awards. She says, “I really don’t expect to win.”
We shall see….