Budgen Motors the driving force behind thriving schools' tennis programme

Budgen Motors, which has dealerships in both Shrewsbury and Telford, specialising in Peugeot, Citroeon and MG, has developed close links with The Shrewsbury Club, a venue for professional international tennis tournaments twice a year.

James Martin, managing director of Budgen Motors, said the company were delighted to continue to support the club's schools' development programme, which recently saw 1,000 local youngsters enjoy tennis fun days at the club to coincide with the Wimbledon Championships.

The programme also allows coaches from The Shrewsbury Club to visit local schools to deliver tennis sessions to excited pupils.

James said: "We're very happy with the partnership and the link to the local community is very important to us, being able to help out the local children through tennis coaching.

"We provide the coaches at The Shrewsbury Club with a mini bus to go out to the schools and deliver sessions, and the partnership is going from strength to strength.

"The Shrewsbury Club is local to us and it's thriving. There's a real buzz about the place. It makes us very proud that so many children are getting the chance to have a go at tennis through our sponsorship and the numbers involved in the sessions has really grown in the last three years."

Alvin Ward, the general manager of The Shrewsbury Club, said the support provided by Budgen Motors was invaluable.

He added: "By sponsoring our Tennis in Schools initiative, it allows us to invite various schools throughout the year to The Shrewsbury Club to take part in tennis and get people interested in what is such a fantastic sport.

"They are actively involved in some of the development programmes and also give the parents of some of the children who travel around the country to take part in tournaments a car for the weekend which is great.

"We couldn't do the things we do without the help and support of Budgen. Around 1,000 Shrewsbury primary school pupils played tennis during the Wimbledon fortnight at The Shrewsbury Club. Without Budgen Motors, we wouldn't be able to do that.

"They're a big part of The Shrewsbury Club and a big part of the local community."

Picture: James Martin, the managing director of Budgen Motors, centre of the front row, is surrounded by happy youngsters taking part in The Shrewsbury Club's successful tennis programme for local schools.