Judy Murray Braves Rain to Open New Courts | ||||
The promise of cake entices Scottish tennis coach to Southfields Lawn Tennis Club
Playing and coaching for so many years in Scotland have made Judy Murray very resilient – you might even say waterproof. And that’s certainly what she needed to be when she dropped into Southfields Lawn Tennis Club this afternoon, lured – as she later tweeted – perhaps also by prospect of cake. “When your reputation precedes you.......'if you open our new courts at Southfields TC, we will provide cake'. Sold.” After so much hot and dry weather this summer, it turned out to be an even more dismal afternoon than even the most pessimistic forecasts had predicted. But, to the – over one hundred – club members and their families who came along today, the sun didn’t need to shine. It was an uplifting community event made all the more special by the presence of a true tennis great. Judy took time out of her hectic schedule to help the Southfields Lawn Tennis Club to celebrate the official opening of two brand new tennis courts at the club. Built with the support of the LTA, the LED-floodlit courts replace two out-of-condition grass ones, opening up new playing capacity for members all year round. The coaching session over, everyone gathered under umbrellas on the upper-most court to hear SLTC’s chairwoman Caroline de la Soujeole say a few words of thanks first to Judy and the event organisers for making the day so special and then to the LTA and the committee members involved in driving the court conversion project itself to its successful conclusion.
Tea – served in beautiful vintage cups and saucers supplied by Corking Collectibles – and cakes galore came next, with Rosey Nugent’s tennis court cake the ace centre-piece. The party continued after we waved Judy off to her next engagement. As the club members slowly drifted home, many of people commented on the day and how much they valued being part of such a vibrant and social tennis club. One comment in particular stands out from one of the club’s life members, who said: “In all the years I’ve been associated with the club, this is the most successful event we’ve ever had. Thank you.” About Southfields Lawn Tennis Club |