Since Andy Murray's amazing victory at Wimbledon, there has been much comment about him being the first Scots-born men's singles winner since Harold Mahony in 1896. But Mahony's birth in Edinburgh was almost an accident, as his family was Irish and this was essentially a holiday home.
Another Wimbledon champion who could be said to have a stronger Scottish link was the little known Herbert Lawford, who won the singles title in 1887. Born in Bayswater in 1851, there is no doubt he was English, being brought up in London and educated at Repton, but he began a lifelong attachment to Scotland when he concluded his schooling at Edinburgh Academy in 1868. He then developed his sporting skills while studying at Edinburgh University between 1868 and 1870, in the university cricket team (he also played cricket for Edinburgh Academicals), and practising his court skills at the Rose Street Racket Court. This was several years before lawn tennis was even invented, but he took up the 'new' game with considerable success after returning to London for a career on the Stock Exchange. He first entered Wimbledon in 1878 and is noted as the first player to introduce topspin, beating Ernest Renshaw in five sets in the 1887 final as well as reaching five other singles finals from 1880 to 1888. He was clearly one of the top players of his day.
Among other achievements as a sporting all-rounder, he turned out at least once for the famous Wanderers football club.
What makes his connection to Scotland much stronger is that he retained a close affinity to the country. He visited regularly and was a shooting tenant of Lauriston Castle near Montrose from the mid 1890s, eventually retiring in 1909 to Aberdeenshire. He bought a house called Drumnagesk at Dess, near Aboyne, where he spent the rest of his life, adding to his sporting interests by joining Aboyne Curling Club. He died there in 1925, aged 73.
Another Wimbledon champion who could be said to have a stronger Scottish link was the little known Herbert Lawford, who won the singles title in 1887. Born in Bayswater in 1851, there is no doubt he was English, being brought up in London and educated at Repton, but he began a lifelong attachment to Scotland when he concluded his schooling at Edinburgh Academy in 1868. He then developed his sporting skills while studying at Edinburgh University between 1868 and 1870, in the university cricket team (he also played cricket for Edinburgh Academicals), and practising his court skills at the Rose Street Racket Court. This was several years before lawn tennis was even invented, but he took up the 'new' game with considerable success after returning to London for a career on the Stock Exchange. He first entered Wimbledon in 1878 and is noted as the first player to introduce topspin, beating Ernest Renshaw in five sets in the 1887 final as well as reaching five other singles finals from 1880 to 1888. He was clearly one of the top players of his day.
Among other achievements as a sporting all-rounder, he turned out at least once for the famous Wanderers football club.
What makes his connection to Scotland much stronger is that he retained a close affinity to the country. He visited regularly and was a shooting tenant of Lauriston Castle near Montrose from the mid 1890s, eventually retiring in 1909 to Aberdeenshire. He bought a house called Drumnagesk at Dess, near Aboyne, where he spent the rest of his life, adding to his sporting interests by joining Aboyne Curling Club. He died there in 1925, aged 73.
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