Wimbledon dream trip for Heppell
TENNIS
DURHAM Archery Tennis Club’s John Heppell volunteered in the British Tennis Play Zone at Wimbledon.
Heppell was given the role after being named the north’s Young Volunteer of the Year at the Aegon British Tennis Awards.
His role during the Championships was to help supervise the different activities taking place.
The Durham-based player and Level Two coaching assistant volunteered in the second week of the Championships, which saw thousands of young people, families and adults give tennis a try.
Heppell first became a member of Durham Archery when he was just four years old.
At the age of 11, he began volunteering at his club, eventually taking on his present role as assistant coach on the Junior Coaching Programme.
The Regional Aegon British Tennis judging panel was impressed by Heppel’s commitment to his volunteer role, giving up his Saturday mornings and Friday evenings to coach players aged four to 16, and his work as Durham Archery LTC’s junior representative.
His commitment to tennis has also been seen in his speedy coaching progression - having already completed his Level One and Two qualifications, he plans to complete his Level Three training shortly after turning 18.
The Aegon British Tennis Awards are a joint initiative between the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the Tennis Foundation, partner Aegon and 40 local/national tennis associations, including Durham and Cleveland LTA.
They champion the people who deliver tennis in communities across Great Britain.