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Tennis First founder Ken Weatherley receives MBE in New Years Honours List 2025
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Ken Weatherley, Co-Founder and Director of the charity Tennis First has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Years Honours List.
Weatherley received his MBE for services to young people, in recognition of his work over many years to support young players in tennis.
Following his inclusion in the King's New Years Honours List, Ken Weatherley MBE said: "I am delighted to be awarded an MBE for my work supporting young tennis players from across Britain. It has been a privilege to be able to support so many talented individuals over the last 20 years through Tennis First, and see them flourish."
A former international tennis player, Weatherley founded Tennis First over two decades ago, with the aim of supporting young British players to reach their potential.
Weatherley has been the driving force for the charity, which helps support talented young players who have the potential to join the world’s best with grant funding, to help ensure access for all.
Since its inception the charity has supported hundreds of young players taking the first steps on their tennis journeys, including Jack Draper, Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Joe Salisbury. In 2024-2025 alone, Tennis First is supporting nearly 40 talented young players.
It has been a privilege to be able to support so many talented individuals over the last 20 years through Tennis First, and see them flourish.
Weatherley’s career in tennis also included 23 years on the committee of The All England Lawn Tennis Club. He founded a sports goods company which introduced a range of sporting brands to the UK, and was a founding director of Invicta Leisure (later merged into Esporta) where he oversaw the addition of over 70 indoor courts to the stock in Great Britain.
Congratulating Ken Weatherley MBE on his honour, LTA Chief Executive Scott Lloyd said: “On behalf of the LTA and the whole of British tennis, congratulations to Ken for receiving an MBE in the New Years Honours.
“Under Ken’s leadership Tennis First has made a huge contribution to our sport, supporting talented young players from across the nation to reach their potential. His recognition with an honour is thoroughly deserved.”
Others recognised in the New Years Honours list include Mark Lawrie, Chief Executive of StreetGames, who receives an OBE for services to education and young people. The LTA works closely with StreetGames, one of the country’s leading sport for development charities, to open tennis up to underserved communities, including through delivery of the LTA SERVES programme.
