At 90 years old, Tom Baron, the winner of this year’s Tennis Lancashire Lifetime Achievement Award, has decided to hang up his rackets.

Tom has enjoyed a distinguished playing career, which includes representing Great Britain since 2012 in the Over 80’s and Over 85’ age-groups. At the 2017 World Championships in Florida, Tom won a Mixed Doubles bronze medal and was part of the Great Britain 85 & Over bronze medal winning team in 2018 and 2019.

Tom as a White Badge Official, umpired at Wimbledon and the US Open, including Jennifer Capriati’s first professional match. Tom is a former Tennis Lancashire Councillor and past President and has dedicated years of service to tennis in the County. One of the highlights was his may years organising the County Veterans’ tournament, which took place annually until the event combined with the juniors to become the Lancashire Tennis Championships.

Tom’s legacy continues to this day in Lancashire and he acts as an inspiration to the latest generation of up and coming players. The winner of the 10 & Under Boys Singles at the Lancashire Tennis Championships each year is presented with the Tom Baron Trophy.  When this year’s winner Rafe McMillan found out about Tom winning his Lifetime Achievement Award, he was determined to find out more about the man himself and made contact with Tom via Tennis Lancashire. 

During the Christmas holidays, Tom arranged to go and watch Rafe play in a tournament and enjoyed both watching his matches and also spending time with the young player and his family afterwards.  This meeting of two tennis players, with an 80 year age gap between them, is a great example of how tennis truly is a sport for life.