James Keothavong, Hilda Moore & Stephen Woodley recognised in New Year Honours list

James Keothavong, a tennis umpire for over 25 years and who has held Gold Badge Chair status for 15 years, receives an MBE for services to tennis and tennis umpiring.

He is joined by Hilda Moore and Stephen Woodley, who both receive BEMs for their sustained contributions to grassroots tennis. Hilda, a tennis volunteer and coach has been awarded a BEM for services to tennis whilst Stephen receives his award for services to tennis in Kent

LTA Chief Executive Scott Lloyd said “It is brilliant that the outstanding contributions which James, Hilda and Stephen have made to British tennis have been recognised in the 2026 New Year Honours list.

“From officiating at grand slam finals to developing tennis in communities, their contributions to our sport have been significant over many years.

“On behalf of the LTA and the wider tennis community we send James, Hilda and Stephen our congratulations for these deserved awards.”

James Keothavong MBE - services to tennis and tennis umpiring

James is one of the world’s leading tennis umpires, and the most senior active male British tennis umpire.

Since 2010 he has been a Gold Badge Umpire, the highest international standard for tennis chair umpires as part of a joint certification program involving the ATP, WTA, ITF and Grand Slams, meaning that he has over 15 years at the very highest level of tennis officiating.

James has over 25 years experience as a tennis official. After growing up playing on local park courts in Hackney as a junior and progressing to the top 10 nationally at under-16 level, he decided to change tack and try officiating and worked at The Championships, Wimbledon for the first time in 1999 as a line judge. He has worked at every instalment of The Championships since and at 85 consecutive Grand Slams as an on-court official.

After achieving Gold Badge status, James became a member of the elite ITF / Grand Slam Officiating Team in 2011, and has since officiated as a Chair Umpire across many significant matches, including across the Grand Slams. This includes being one of only a handful of tennis officials who have been Chair Umpire for a singles final across all four Grand Slam tournaments.

James has also umpired at the world cups of tennis, including at the Davis Cup Finals on 10 occasions and the Billie Jean King Cup Finals twice, and has been an umpire at the last six Olympic Games. He has dedicated many hours of his own time to help other officials develop, providing support, advice and mentoring. This includes travelling around the world to support the development of officials through the ITF Officiating School.

James was a member of the LTA Council between 2019 and 2024, and is a member of the ITF’s Rules of Tennis Committee, a body responsible for monitoring the game and its rules, and making recommendations for changes.

Hilda Moore BEM - services to tennis

Hilda Moore has made a huge contribution to grassroots tennis over 45 years involvement in the sport as a volunteer and coach. After beginning to play tennis in Glasgow, volunteering at Titwood Tennis Club from age 19, she joined Marlborough Tennis Club in England after moving for work. After a number of years involvement with the club, she joined the committee in 2000 and was then elected as Chair in 2002, a role she held for nearly 20 years.

Hilda’s strong leadership and enthusiasm as Chair enabled the club to thrive. She was the driving force behind a move to a new site, leading fundraising efforts and overseeing a successful planning application to secure the future of the club at its new location for the long term.

After initially starting sessions for juniors when she joined the club, Hilda qualified as a coach in 2004 and has since delivered opportunities for hundreds of young people to play tennis every year. Hilda also established the cross-sport Marlborough Sports Forum, running annual events for over 150 children across a dozen sports and building links across the local community. Hilda’s passion for ensuring that tennis is accessible for all also led her to recently start walking tennis sessions at the club, to provide opportunities for people who are less mobile to play.

Despite stepping down as Chair, Hilda remains incredibly enthusiastic about getting more people into tennis. She is a club trustee and committee member with responsibility for coaching, and also sits on the committee of her county association with responsibility for providing support for tennis venues across Wiltshire.

In recognition of her contribution to tennis, Hilda was also recognised as the Lifetime Achievement Award winner at the 2025 LTA Tennis Awards.

Stephen Woodley BEM - services to tennis in Kent

Stephen Woodley has been involved in tennis as a volunteer for 50 years. After first picking up a racket on local council tennis courts in Abingdon in Oxfordshire as a junior, Stephen has gone on to play a key role in the growth of tennis in Kent.

Arriving in the Canterbury area in the late 1960s, Stephen joined Canterbury Lawn Tennis Club, and in addition to playing, quickly became more involved in the club as a volunteer. Stephen was instrumental in the club’s move to Polo Farm Sports Club which was completed in 1989, with the agreement of a long lease to support the development of improved tennis facilities including eight tennis courts and a clubhouse to set the club up with a strong base for the long-term.

Serving as Chair between 1994-2007 and a trustee of Polo Farm between 1999-2018, Stephen supported significant growth for the club in the local area, and successfully led a project to develop an indoor tennis centre for the local community. After the indoor centre was opened, Stephen chaired the management committee, ensuring opportunities for all to play with an outreach programme to local schools and introduction of a wheelchair tennis programme.

When Stephen joined the club there were no teams competing, but thanks to his leadership over a lengthy period, the club now has 16 teams playing in the Kent League, and over 400 children regularly participating.

Stephen remains an active member of the club, continuing to play and support the development of tennis in the wider area. He is also an Honorary Life Vice President of Kent Tennis.

In 2011, Stephen received the LTA’s Meritorious Service Award in recognition of his contribution to tennis in Kent, and in 2024 received the LTA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, for his outstanding service to the sport.