CHAIR

I started tennis aged 8 and have been following the game since Venus Williams beat Lindsay Davenport for her first Wimbledon title in 2000 - I am now a diehard Williams Sisters fan!

I began my career as a coach, progressing to a regional referee. As President of Stirling University tennis club, I launched a Learning Disability programme with Tennis Scotland. I interned for IMG in Mumbai and London, and was based at Wimbledon for the 2012 Olympics.

Tennis has been a place of joy and relaxation, but I haven’t always felt represented or organically included. I am thrilled to be part of Pride in Tennis to help make it a sport for all.

VICE-CHAIR

I grew up playing table tennis, but switched to tennis in my 20s, and have since become a real tennis nut - as a fan, a player and a licensed referee.

LGBTQ+ tennis has played a big role in my social life. I have met many like-minded people in the UK and on the GLTA global circuit who have become true friends.

In fact, I met my life partner through a local LGBTQ+ tennis group. We still often compete as a doubles pair and many are amazed that our relationship both on and off court has survived all the trials and tribulations!

SECRETARY

I started playing tennis when I was 3 with my family. From tennis I moved to badminton before a long-term injury brought me back to tennis.

I was brought into Pride in Tennis due to being a researcher investigating gender and sexuality in sport and I'm excited to develop the research surrounding LGBTQ+ inclusion in the UK.

TREASURER

Inspired by watching a Navratilova/Barker (my all-time fave!) quarter-final at Wimbledon aged 10, I’ve been tennis-obsessed ever since, although with a few playing breaks caused by multiple knee surgeries. I now mainly play doubles (typically with my long-suffering husband, Kevin), wearing ugly Robocop-style knee braces to do so!

Moving to London in 2005, the LGBTQ+ tennis network here provided us with a terrific infrastructure to play, and to meet other LGBTQ+ people, many of whom are now our close friends.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

I grew up in Portsmouth with a brother who coached tennis, and was lucky enough to have indoor courts at my secondary school. I played lots of sport when I was younger but stopped in my teens. My brother encouraged me to take up tennis again at 18, and soon after I started helping out in group sessions under my childhood coach, alongside my job in marketing.

Since then I haven’t looked back and now work full time as a coach at CourtX, where I met my now partner. I first became involved with Pride in Tennis last year running an event alongside Portsmouth Pride, where I first appreciated the importance of representation and using my position to help open up tennis to more people like me.

CLUBS & VENUES NETWORK OFFICER

I was that typical sports mad Geordie kid, playing racquet sports from age 9. I have played and then coached at the same club in Newcastle all my life.

When I was 13 and realised I was gay, I found it very difficult to accept that fact, leading to many mental health problems. Only when I was 30 did I have the confidence to come out as a coach and a player.

I have founded Pride in Tennis to give young LGBTQ+ athletes an easier route into this fantastic sport, with confidence and without prejudice.

MEMBERSHIPS OFFICER

The first time I saw tennis on TV, I thought: “I could do that!”, so I asked my parents to enrol me in a local club in Farnham, Surrey. At 14, I came second in my first ever tournament and have been taking part in club and regional competitions ever since, in and around Portsmouth where I am currently based.

In 2013, I discovered the GLTA and entered their event at World Out Games in Antwerp. I have been competing abroad regularly with an ever-expanding family of friends.

I am honoured to work alongside this dedicated team to make our sport a welcoming and positive experience for all.

PARTNERSHIPS & SPONSORSHIP OFFICER

Tennis has always been a part of my life, having grown up playing regularly.

After university, I went a decade without playing, but have found my way back to competing in recent years. However, when I came back to the sport, I was out as a lesbian in every sphere of my life, but hadn’t yet experienced being out at a tennis club.

I’m passionate about Pride in Tennis because I’d love to help make tennis a more inclusive place.