Tennis Lancashire’s County Secretary, Les Atkinson has won LTA North's Lifetime Achievement Award for his 60 years’ service to the sport in the regional section of the 2020 LTA Tennis Awards.

Following his success in the County Awards last December, Les was up against all the other county winners from the North of England in the regional awards, which were decided by a panel of tennis experts from across the region.  Following this award, Les will now progress to the national LTA Tennis Awards, which will be announced later in the year.

Les joined Winstanley Tennis Club in 1959 and took on the roles of Treasurer and Chairman, as well as playing for the club until 2009. Whilst continuing with his voluntary roles at Winstanley, Les also completed his Coaching Awards and ran team events and established a strong grassroots coaching activities in and around Wigan.

In 1989, Les took early retirement from his job as a Deputy Headteacher at Prescot School to become the first Tennis Development Officer at Robin Park Tennis Centre, establishing an extensive schools programme as well as junior and adult recreational classes and performance squads.  Alumni of these squads included Jane O’Donoghue,  Danielle Gallagher (Hock), Rob Cross, Janelle Brooks (Welch), Gill Brown, Rachael Hyland (Anders), Chris Anders, Scott Reid, Kenan Arslanagic, and Nicky Butler who are all still involved in tennis today.

During this time Les was also the coach of Jane O’Donoghue as a junior, who went on to become British number two.

Les represented Lancashire in the Over 55 and Over 65 age groups for over ten years, as well as taking on the role of Tennis Lancashire’s Tournament Co-ordinator organising County wide tournaments, including Road to Wimbledon and National Club League.

Since 2002, Les has also been a Tennis Lancashire Councillor and Executive Committee member and since 2009 has been the Honorary County Secretary.