Chairman, Jackie Matthews received her 2005 LTA Meritorious Service Award from Charles Trippe, LTA President at The Queen's Club in London on December 14th 2005. Jackie is the first person successfully nominated by Avon LTA to receive such an award and says she was thrilled to be selected alongside other national nominations. She has worked with Avon tennis as a volunteer for almost twenty years and was recognised particularly for her pioneering work with short tennis (now known as mini-tennis) as well as being a founder member of Avon Tennis Parents Association. This acted as a support and communication mechanism for the County Development Officer and the County structure and where she co-founded a new County magazine. During the 1990's she meticulously planned, fundraised the £120,000 required and project managed the building of the unique Rodway Hill Tennis Centre where she established a community club with new tournaments such as the South Gloucestershire championships. She was treated to a very special day at The Queen's Club which she says she will remember fondly 'in her retirement'!
