Club honours young volunteer for going the extra mile

Wells Tennis Club honoured 14 year-old Tom Wilson at its annual end of season presentation evening (15 November) with a special award for volunteering.

Blue School student Tom, from Wells was singled out for a new award thanks to is tireless contribution every weekend and during the holidays with some of the club’s youngest players.  He also assisted on a one-day research project assignment to assess player’s serves.

Tom started assisting coach Kevin Durney as part of his Duke of Edinburgh challenge in January this year but continued to volunteer long after it had finished.  A member since he was five years old Tom plays most weeks for fun after his mother spotted he had great co-ordination catching a ball.

Tom was presented with his trophy by Club President Tasha Smith and commented:

“Volunteering at the club has really opened my eyes to the different ways players aged only seven or eight can progress in a short space of time. It has been really satisfying to get involved with the coaching side of tennis and even helping with data collection for a research project.

“I was really surprised and thrilled to receive the trophy – I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

But that was not the only award Tom received after being nominated by club members in the LTA county awards he also won the Lawn Tennis Association Somerset Young Volunteer of the year award!

Club coach Kevin Durney added:

“Tom has been a great help to our tennis club.  He started volunteering with the Duke of Edinburgh award, saying yes whenever asked to do something new.  Since then he has helped at Open Days, my MSc serve experiment and continues to be a big hit with all the children on Saturday mornings.  

“Simply put whenever he is asked it’s a yes before he knows what he needs to do – you couldn’t want for more from a volunteer.”