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University of Stirling to recognise Judy Murray at Winter Graduation

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Judy Murray
Judy Murray

Judy Murray will be honoured by the University of Stirling in recognition of her outstanding contribution to tennis, to sporting excellence and to charitable causes.

Ms Murray is to receive the award of Doctor of the University at the Stirling Winter Graduation on Friday 22 November.

Fittingly, she will step onto the stage in the afternoon ceremony at the Scottish National Tennis Centre – converted into a bespoke Graduation venue for the day.

It was on these courts Judy Murray worked as Scottish National Tennis Coach between 1995 and 2004, and from where her sons Andy and Jamie would hone their skills – often testing themselves against the University’s own scholarship players.

Stirling has provided financial support and academic flexibility to tennis players since 1992 through its International Sports Scholarship Programme. Graduates include Davis Cup and ATP Tour Doubles player Colin Fleming, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

A local girl from Bridge of Allan, Judy Murray was a talented school tennis player, winning 64 junior and senior Scottish tennis titles. She went on to study French and Business at the University of Edinburgh and embarked on a career in retail management before leaving to raise her sons and then coach the best emerging Scottish talent.

Judy Murray now has more than 20 years’ tennis coaching experience and is the current captain of the Great Britain Fed Cup team, whilst also leading the drive to increase the number of female tennis coaches.

Ms Murray also plans to create a new tennis centre in the town of her birth, complementing outreach programmes to give children from rural and deprived areas the opportunity to play the sport she passionately promotes.

It is not just in tennis she is making a major impact, but in charitable fundraising too, where she works tirelessly to support cancer care campaigns.

Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “Judy Murray provides an outstanding example of what can be achieved with focus and determination. Whether in her role as a mother, a coach, or a charity fundraiser, her positive mindset is inspirational.

”I am delighted that she will receive this honour at Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and on the courts where her outstanding sons once practised alongside our students. I am sure our many graduates at the ceremony will also be inspired by her achievements as they prepare for their future careers.”

More than 800 graduands will step onto the stage at the Stirling campus on Friday 22 November, following in the footsteps of 125 graduates at the University’s Highland graduation event earlier this month.

Judy Murray is one of three leading women to be honoured at the Stirling Winter Graduation ceremonies, with honorary doctorates also being conferred upon Scotland’s first female Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini and Dr Taeko Seki, head of the University’s Japanese Alumni Association.

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