Wellow’s sporting community welcomed special guest, Lawn Tennis Association President, Cathie Sabin, last Saturday for her first visit since the village’s state-of-the-art sports facility opened last summer.

Ms Sabin, who was appointed LTA President in 2013 and became the first

female President in its 125-year history, came to see how the investment given by the LTA had been used.

Inspired by the Olympics and wanting to leave a legacy for their village, members of the community and sporting experts from the area came together with plans to

transform the tired Wellow recreation ground, officially opening the site in September last year, which now boasts two tennis courts with lighting, a bowls green, football pitch, facilities for boules, outside gym equipment, cricket nets and a running track. The community raised a huge amount through grants, with the LTA contributing over £50,000 for the project.

Saturday’s celebratory event saw several adult doubles matches played on both tennis courts, with a range of abilities willing to demonstrate, while others decided to use the purpose-built gravel pit for playing boules. As the afternoon wore on,

further keen players turned up, demonstrating the enthusiasm for such a local

facility. Local children were encouraged to take part in tennis activities provided by University of Bath coaches, with the older children from Wellow Valley Tennis also demonstrating their skills.

As well as watching the tennis, Ms Sabin brought a replica of the Davis Cup along with her, which Andy Murray and his teammates won last December. She said that

following their win and the subsequent publicity, other rural areas in Britain were following suit and building similar facilities to that at Wellow to encourage the tennis stars of the future. It is thought that the Wellow project will now be used as a template for others in the UK to come and visit and be inspired by.

Speaking of the village sports ground and the transformation it has undergone, she said: “This facility will provide great opportunities for young people living in the community to become interested in tennis and give them something to do in the holidays or when they are not busy at school. I cannot personally say if any more funding will be granted, but there could be the possibility in years to come.”

Also present were the Chair of B&NES Council, Ian Gilchrist and local Councillor, Neil Butters, who have supported the project.

Local volunteers who worked so tirelessly to gain the funding from the LTA and get the project off the ground hope that the area will remain enthusiastic about the courts and use them regularly. Peter Downey, from Wellow Sports, said this week: “We welcome many people from around the area who want to join and play, not only

tennis, but seven and five-a-side football, Petanque, practice cricket or use the outdoor gym. All are welcome.

“The team that came together were complementary – Andy Smith, the tennis enthusiast who drove it, Chris Wordsworth, who handled and ensured the quality, Hugh Prentice, Parish Council Chair and Ron Humphries, who never stopped finding and making funding applications, backed up by the majority of villagers.

“I have never seen, nor lived in such a brilliant community.”

With thanks to Tom Hunt, Journalism Student at Bath Studio School, who contributed to this article.