DUNFERMLINE Tennis Club’s long-serving secretary Pat Reid has been honoured by Tennis Scotland for her “outstanding service” to the sport.

She first joined the Bothwell Street club’s committee in 1969 and was presented with the prestigious Honorary Vice Presidents’ Award at the end of the governing body’s AGM in Stirling.

The award came as a shock to Pat, who has been secretary at Dunfermline for 25 years and has watched the club grow to its highest-ever levels of membership of 160 adults and 250 juniors, making it the club with the largest junior membership in the east of Scotland.

She said, “It was quite unexpected and I am overwhelmed. I am one of the honorary vice presidents but the rest of them kept quiet about it! I am delighted and honoured to receive this recognition of my volunteering, and look forward to seeing the increase in participation that has happened over the last 20 years continue into the future.

“The club has grown to the point that we have more members than ever but it is not all down to me. Everyone at the club has helped and I must say a big thank you to them.” Pat’s love affair with the sport spans 45 years, firstly as a player before joining the Dunfermline Tennis Club committee. Her stalwart role has seen her fundraise, carry out administration work, referee and coach, and during her involvement the women’s doubles team - for whom her two daughters and Judy Murray have starred throughout the years - have taken the record for most Scottish Cup wins.

At national level, she was president of Tennis Scotland in 2003 and 2004 and for the last seven years has held the post of director of tennis services.

Her involvement with the governing body has coincided with the emergence and success of Gordon Reid, Colin Fleming and Jamie and Andy Murray, who both honed their skills on Dunfermline’s courts while mum Judy was a club member.

Pat credits the Murrays for aiding the club’s continued success, which has also seen them expand to five all-weather floodlit courts.

She continued, “A lot of it is down to Andy Murray and the fact we’ve had two Wimbledon champions practice here! The club is as large as it’s ever been and we’re taking tennis out to over 1000 schoolchildren.

“Back in 1969 there were few junior members - I played in the public park with my mum! But some junior classes started on a Saturday and it’s carried on from there.

“I hadn’t realised that I have been involved as long as I have, but the change at the club is immense.

“The facilities now are fantastic and it has been part of my family life for so long - I met my husband there and my daughters still play on the team. I hope I’m still involved for a long time to come!”