Jo Maher and Mike McBrien won awards for their achievements and services as tennis volunteers at the Torch Trophy Trust Awards evening on Wednesday.
The Trust supports and promotes the work of volunteers across all sports and recreation activities throughout the United Kingdom, working in association with the Sport and Recreation Alliance.
Maher and McBrien were nominated by the Lawn Tennis Association and the Tennis Foundation and received their awards in the presence of HRH The Princess Alexandra KG GCVO at the ceremony which took place in Pall Mall, London.
Jo Maher, from Wimborne in Dorset, was nominated by both the LTA and TF for her lifetime's service to tennis as a player, volunteer and work with schools in her area.
When she moved to Dorset from teaching in Liverpool Jo supported the Dorset Schools Association, setting up local schools competitions, as well as helping Dorset LTA and captaining the Dorset County Cup team.
Mike McBrien, from Liverpool, was nominated for his award by the LTA after working as a tennis volunteer for 39 years and is described as the embodiment of Liverpool tennis.
A lifelong member of Vagabond's Tennis Club, and President of the Liverpool Group Committee, Mike won numerous titles as a player before shifting his focus to providing tennis opportunities to young people, especially those in deprived areas.
Geoff Newton, Executive Director of the Tennis Foundation, Sue Wolstenholme, Vice-President of the Lawn Tennis Association and Cathie Sabin, Deputy President of the Lawn Tennis Association, were privileged to see the pair receive their awards amongst a gathering of ex-elite sports stars such as Sir Bobby Charlton, Roger Uttley and Christine Janes (Trueman).
Sir Bobby Charlton stressed in his speech that sport in Britain relies on volunteers and the recipients of the Torch Trophy Awards should be proud of their achievements because without their efforts their particular sports would have been the poorer.
Jo and Mike were thrilled to receive such an honour and they said they felt quite humble to hear about all the things the other recipients had done and to be counted amongst their number.
The Torch Trophy Trust also extended their appreciation to the Tennis Foundation for the financial support the organisation has provided in 2011, enabling them to continue their work in encouraging volunteers.
Find out more about the Torch Trophy Trust