WOULD-BE tennis stars at Amesbury prep school, in Hindhead, now benefit from a full-time head tennis professional.

Andy Warry, head tennis coach at The Bourne Club, in Farnham, has been appointed to the newly created role.

Headmaster Nigel Taylor said: “It’s unusual for a prep school to have a full-time professional coach dedicated to the development of a tennis programme.

“However we’ve promoted the sport for years from the grassroots to performance level and so in some respects Andy’s appointment is the final piece of the jigsaw.”

School bursar Yvonne Drew, mother of ex-pupil Jodie Burrage, the UK No. 1 and World No 20 at Under 18 level, said: “The fact Amesbury encourages tennis was a consideration for us when choosing a school for our children,

“As Jodie began to compete at an elite level it was reassuring for her to be at a school, where the mindset of the staff was to support her, rather than to regard her tennis commitments as something that got in the way of her school work. The fact they had experience of working with other children who had played at a similar level helped.

“Andy is well-known on the circuit as an outstanding coach, and the fact he is going to be with us all day, every day, supported by the current team of coaches will give us the opportunity to expand a well-established programme.”

Mr Warry, one of the Lawn Tennis Association’s elite coaches certified as a master performance coach, said: “It had to be something very special to tear me away from The Bourne Club. The opportunity to join a prep school, full-time, and focus solely on tennis is rare, but it’s what a tennis coach needs to be able to do if the objective is to sustain a first-rate programme from grassroots to performance level.

“The fact Amesbury happens to be my old prep school, meant the offer was even more irresistible.”