Joan Griffiths of Painswick Tennis Club has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Gloucestershire after giving 64 years of service to the game.

Joan has been responsible for providing so many opportunities for players at club level and not least promoting the Gloucestershire Tennis League, where she is still setting up new leagues for more veteran competitors.

She was honoured at the Gloucestershire Lawn Tennis Association’s first County Awards Dinner which was held at Brickhampton Golf Complex.

The awards recognise and champion the people who deliver tennis in communities across Gloucestershire, and a good number of people from around the county were honoured as part of the British Tennis Awards.

Jim Cressey of East Gloucestershire Club won the Volunteer Award. Jim has been pivotal for many years at coordinating seniors’ tennis at club and county level and has always gone the extra mile. He has also volunteered with the LTA to assess veterans’ tennis country-wide.

The Young Person of the Year Award went to Luke Thomas. At the age of just 15 he has already contributed much in his young life as a player and a helper at his club, Lechlade Tennis Club. He is popular and his fair and enthusiastic attitude has encouraged many younger players to be inspired and love the game.

Nick Edwards won the Coach of the Year Award. An excellent role model and coach, in the last 10 years Nick has had much impact on the performance level of junior players. In the past year he has extended performance opportunities still further and as a result of his commitment the Gloucestershire LTA have appointed him as their new Junior Performance Coordinator.

The Club of the Year Award was won by Redmarley Tennis Club. The club are very much part of the local community and provide opportunities for tennis for all, plus an inspiring social calendar. Their outstanding achievement this year was to fund and build a new pavilion, finding finance locally. This will greatly help them to promote their tennis programme still further.

And the Community Venue Award went to Winchcombe Tennis Club. Still in their second year, they have achieved much in that time, working closely with the local secondary school. Already financially stable and supported with local sponsorship, this venue is forward-thinking and already making a tennis mark on the community with increased membership and teams.

Winchcombe Community Venue, along with Redmarley Tennis Club, are now in the running to be awarded a national award, which could see them collect a £5,000 facility grant.

Simon Corbishley was voted Official of the Year. A professional, well organised referee and official, he is vital to the spirit of competing and always goes the extra mile to increase the framework of competition in the county, creating opportunities for more competitors wherever possible.

The Over-60s League scooped the Competition of the Year Award. A new and innovative competition for the more senior players in the county, it provides opportunities for the older player in a relaxed atmosphere with to date 293 players involved. With plans to group smaller clubs together this number will continue to grow and extend a player’s competitive life.

Volunteer Award: Jim Cressey of East Gloucestershire Club

Young Person Award: Luke Thomas of Lechlade TC

Coach Award: Nick Edwards of GLTA and Oxstalls Sports Park

Club Award: Redmarley TC

Community Award: Winchcombe TC

Official of the Year: Simon Corbishley of GLTA and East Gloucestershire Club

Competition of the Year Award: Inter Club Over 60s League,

Lifetime Achievement: Joan Griffiths of Painswick TC and GLTA League



Boy Junior Player Mary Eyre Award: James Findlay of East Gloucestershire Club

Girl Junior Player Mary Eyre Award: Rachel James of Lydney TC