We are delighted to share that Dave McLeod, one of our founding members, was recently recognised by Glasgow Life as an 'unsung hero' volunteer.

You may recognise Dave as the man who maintains the tennis courts and the area around them and ensures that the playing area remains in top condition, providing a pleasant environment for all

What you may not realise is that, without Dave, there probably wouldn't be any tennis courts!  He joined the Friends of Newlands Park (FoNP) Committee in 2020, and immediately impressed everyone with his engineering and practical knowledge, his warm, kind and effortlessly professional manner. 

And then came the tennis courts opportunity. Back in 2020 the project didn't have a name: we simply hoped we'd find funding to resurface the courts.  By June 2021 we were meeting with local councillors and Dave simply 'got on with it' and completed a funding form for People Make Glasgow Communities support. 

Dave was a driving force as we progressed – in 2022 –  from talks about People Make Glasgow Communities and Glasgow Life support towards attracting the attention of the Lawn Tennis Association and their Public Parks fund. Initially Newlands Park was not a priority site for the LTA. Dave was tireless in his pursuit of ways to change their minds, a loyal and generous colleague when we were putting the business plan together, and a consummate professional when it came to negotiating and making the case for what has become Newlands Park Community Tennis Centre.

The wider team – Jamie, Jack, Matthew, Fiona, Emma, Lawrence, Jie and many others (you know who you are)  – has become one of the best, most life-affirming initiatives, and it wouldn't have happened without Dave's skills, energy and dogged determination.