Badenoch and Strathspey tennis stalwart Winifred Yvonne Craig Birnie, known as Yvonne, has been honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours for her services to sport across the region.
The 74-year-old has predominantly been involved in the Rothiemurchus and Aviemore Tennis Club, where she now serves as treasurer, but has also been involved in the Badenoch and Strathspey Sports Council and Kingussie Sports Hub.
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She said: “I am absolutely delighted and very surprised to be honest.
“I found out around three weeks ago when a government letter arrived through the post and I thought ‘what have I done wrong’.
“It was a bit of a shock really.
“I have been involved in sport all my life and feel it has great being to be able to put something back into it.
“This honour is the icing on top of being able to do just that and it is very nice.
“I don’t think it has sunk in yet. It is not something I ever expected and I must thank whoever nominated me really.
“I really appreciate being honoured in this way.”
The club has recently opened a covered court, allowing budding tennis players of all ages to continue to play away from the sometimes dreadful Highland weather.
She added: “I moved up here in 1986 but I was involved in tennis before that.
“We did some fundraising at the time and we were able to build three courts and a clubhouse.
“The time came recently to renew our lease and we thought it was a good time to resurface and create the new facility which I am very pleased to see.
“We are really trying to keep things going and keep people involved in sport, and I have got a lot of satisfaction over the years from seeing other people’s achievements.”
