Paralympian wheelchair tennis player calls MBE recognition an 'incredible honour'

A Paralympian wheelchair tennis player from Maidenhead was one of many to be named in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Andy Lapthorne received an MBE for services to tennis after a long and distinguished career that’s brought him 18 Grand Slam titles, spanning all four majors, and bronze and silver Paralympic Games medals.

He is one of several professionals recognised with honours across the area.

Mr Lapthorne was born with cerebral palsy and has been playing wheelchair tennis since the age of 10 and turned professional in 2008, competing in the sport’s quad division.

He reached a career high ranking of World No.1 in January 2020, having achieved the same feat in the doubles game in January 2011.

Since turning pro he’s won 77 ITF titles with 27 of those coming from singles competitions and 50 in doubles tournaments.

He has been British No.1 since January 2013.

His greatest personal triumphs came in 2014 and 2019 when he won the US Open as a singles player, whilst he’s reached the final of all the other Grand Slam tournaments.

In doubles he has 16 Grand Slam titles spanning all four Grand Slam tournaments dating back to 2011.

He’s also represented Great Britain at four Paralympic Games, making his debut at London 2012 when he won quad doubles silver alongside Peter Norfolk OBE.

At Rio in 2016 he won silver in the singles competition and bronze alongside Jamie Burdekin in the doubles.

At last summer’s Paris Paralympics he won silver in the doubles alongside Greg Slade before confirming it would be his final Paralympics.

Speaking this week, he said he hoped he’s inspired players from a similar background to him into wheelchair tennis.

Mr Lapthorne said: “Obviously, it’s an incredible honour. Something that you don’t expect to happen and when I got the letter through the door, it was a very special moment for me and my family.

“I’m from a working-class family.

“There’s not many tennis players who come from my background that end up making it, so this could show more people from my background that there is a path into the sport and into any sport really.

“It just shows that if you put your mind to something, you can achieve great things and hopefully I can prove an inspiration for someone out there that is at the start of their journey in sport and looking to take up a sport”, the 34-year-old said.

Also on the list is Peter Francis, chief of staff at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Marlow Road, Maidenhead who has been awarded an OBE for services to global commemoration.

Peter said: "I am truly humbled to receive this honour.

“To be awarded an OBE for services to global commemoration is both moving and deeply meaningful.”

Elsewhere, Marlow’s Sanjay Mahendra Patel, lately managing director at The Hundred, has been honoured with an MBE for services to cricket.

Mr Patel helped set up the new 100-ball tournament while working for the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The short-form game has aimed to change the landscape of the sport in the UK and encourage more families to attend matches.

Mr Patel left his role as managing director of The Hundred in 2023 and now serves as the interim chief executive officer at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Yorkshire’s chairman, Colin Graves, said: “Having worked closely with Sanjay whilst I was at ECB, I’ve seen first-hand the remarkable dedication he has had to ensuring The Hundred would be a success, expanding the reach of the game and providing a platform for financial stability for the whole game.”