Lorna was one of five lucky winners of a “Treat a Mum” competition, run by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Judy to recognise and reward the role that mums play in sport.
Lorna was nominated for the prize by her 21-year-old daughter, Eleanor Thompson, who joined her at the National Tennis Centre in London for a morning’s tennis coaching and Q&A session with Judy, where they shared thoughts on the challenges facing parents in sport.
The pair then travelled down to the Queen’s Club where they were VIP guests for the semi finals of the prestigious AEGON Championships.
Lorna said she was delighted to be nominated; “I was absolutely chuffed, and surprised, as I didn’t know that Eleanor had done this. To think that she had done this for me and give me the honour of coming here and meeting Judy is lovely. It’s been a real day to remember."
“You don’t do this for recognition you do it for them. I was told to give my kids all the opportunities that I could and I’m glad I’ve been able to do that. We can only do so much for them at the end of the day and it is them that take things forward."
She added; “Tennis is a great sport for learning life skills. From a young age they have to go on court on their own and learn to deal with people and situations, winning and losing. It’s a lot to learn and I think they take that through life with them.”
Judy Murray said: “I’m really pleased that the LTA has chosen to put this day on. It is so important to recognise the effort and commitment that parents – and mums in particular – put in to make tennis happen for their kids.
“The parents that are here today all have different stories to tell, but at the heart of it all they want their children to enjoy tennis and they are prepared to do whatever needs to be done to do that. “You need the parents to create the opportunities, but it’s up to the children to take the opportunities and make the most of them. For me it’s all about making the right things happen at the right time.
Inspiration, advice and support for parents in tennis is available at www.lta.org.uk/parents