Wimbledon tennis player and coach given freedom of Isle of Wight town
Ryde Town Council has awarded Patricia (Pat) Maclean with the Freedom of Ryde Award for Lifelong Contribution to Sport, in recognition of her contribution to tennis both as a player and coach.
The award recognises Pat's life of quiet service in the Island town, and acknowledges her position as one of Ryde's most cherished residents.
Read more:
Rare train appearances and ales at Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Island's RSPCA branch looking for new homes for nine fundraising dog statues
Born on November 11, 1934, Pat is a renowned former British tennis player and proud member of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
She twice reached the fourth round of Wimbledon's singles tournament and a two-time women's doubles quarter-finalist.
She also represented Great Britain in the 1954 Wightman Cup.
(Image: Contributed)
Beyond her time on the court, Pat dedicated her life to coaching and inspiring young athletes.
Pat has passed down her wisdom and passion for the sport by mentoring young sportsmen and women and simply offering kind words of encouragement.
Despite rubbing shoulders with tennis stars and celebrities on her frequent trips to Wimbledon, Pat's heart has always remained with the Ryde community.
Now in her 90th year, her wisdom continues to be felt at Mead Lawn Tennis Club.
She most recently went to Wimbledon in 2024 with members from the Island tennis club, watching a range of elite matches and even bumping into Cliff Richard.
She is a pillar of the community and has shown a true commitment to nurturing talent, earning her respect throughout Ryde and the Island.
Her actions on and off the court will be remembered for generations.
The Freedom of Ryde Award acknowledges not only her sporting achievements but also the love, dedication and inspiration she has brought to the Island town.
The Mayor of Ryde, Cllr Richard May, commented: "Pat Maclean's name is etched into Ryde's sporting history.
"Her contribution to tennis, both nationally and within our community, has been immense.
"It is a privilege to present this award to someone who has shaped so many lives with kindness and passion."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
4 hours ago
- NBC Sports
British ambassador to U.S. wants to host Super Bowl
From time to time, a stray report emerges regarding the possibility of the Super Bowl being played in London. (Usually, the time for that is when the NFL is promoting its annual London games.) Most recently, the British ambassador to the U.S. made a public case to host the game. 'I've made a big pitch for the first Super Bowl outside the U.S. to take place in Britain,' Peter Mandelson told the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on Thursday, via the Times. 'I want that Super Bowl in Britain. I don't care when it takes place but I want it announced while I'm ambassador,' Mandelson said. 'We love it, we love it.' American fans would not love to see the quintessential American sporting event played in another country. While only a small percentage of football fans ever attend the game, the vast majority believe it must happen on American soil. Still, if the game was ever played in Britain or Bora Bora or anywhere in between, people would huff and puff and sit their asses down to watch it. The NFL's desire to expand its international footprint isn't quite an obsession, but it's moving that way. The best evidence of that happening would be exporting the Super Bowl to another country, welcoming the excitement and interest it would create — and ignoring the criticism that would come from American fans.
Tom's Guide
11 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
How to watch Itauma vs Whyte live stream now: watch boxing, PPV price, start time, TV channel, full fight card
The Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte live stream from the ANB Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is a fascinating all-British heavyweight contest between a highly rated up-and-coming fighter and an experienced campaigner with dynamite in his fists. Itauma has the youth and momentum, Whyte the power and experience — and you can watch Itauma vs Whyte live streams from anywhere with a VPN. ► Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025► Main card: 12:45 p.m. ET / 9:45 a.m. / 5:45 p.m. BST / 2:45 a.m. AEST (Sun).► Itauma vs Whyte ringwalks (approx.): 5:20 p.m. ET / 2:20 p.m. PT / 10:20 p.m. BST / 7:20 a.m. AEST (Sun).• U.S. PPV — DAZN • U.K. PPV — DAZN • Watch abroad — try NordVPN 100% risk-free Itauma may only be 20 but the youngster from Chatham, Kent, has squeezed plenty into his nascent career. Unbeaten from 12 fights, with 10 stoppages, the gifted southpaw hits hard but it's his movement and ring IQ that have impressed many a boxing sage until now. Victory last time out against former NFL linebacker Mike Balogun put him top of the WBO world rankings but he's yet to face anything close to a test. He's been avoided, yes, and is a huge favorite but he's never faced anyone close to Whyte's level. The 37-year-old Whyte knows nothing less than a victory is enough if he's to avoid becoming a gatekeeper for the heavyweight division. The Body Snatcher's three defeats have come against top-tier fighters – Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin, the latter avenged in a dominant rematch – and the Jamaica-born Brit has one of the biggest left hooks in the business. The former WBC interim champion has always been susceptible to an uppercut but if he can stick it on his younger, taller opponent, who knows what could happen? Check out all the need-to-know information on how to watch Itauma vs Whyte live streams below, plus a stacked undercard – in the U.S. or abroad. Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte is available to buy on DAZN PPV in more than 200 countries across the world, but if you want to avoid paying the extra fee on top of your regular subscription, the streaming service have got a deal just for you. Anyone who signs up to an annual DAZN subscription (excluding those in the U.S.) will get the Itauma vs Whyte PPV for free. That means you get 12 months' access to the world's go-to boxing broadcaster and, depending on your country, a host of soccer, tennis, rugby union and E-Sports content, too. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the Itauma vs Whyte fight on your usual streaming service? You can still watch Itauma vs Whyte on it thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for boxing fans away on vacation or on business. We think NordVPN is the best VPN on the market right now. NordVPN deal: 3 Months Extra FREE Boasting lightning fast speeds, great features, streaming power, and class-leading security, NordVPN is our #1 VPN.✅ 3 months extra FREE!✅ 74% off usual price Use Nord to unblock your usual streaming service and watch Itauma vs Whyte live online with our exclusive deal. Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from the U.S. and want to view your usual American service, you'd select U.S. from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to a service listed below that's showing the fight and tune in just like you would at home. Americans can watch the Itauma live streams via DAZN PPV. The PPV cost is $49.99. You must also have a regular DAZN subscription to watch all the action unfold. DAZN prices start from $19.99 a month on a 12-month contract or $224.99 if you pay for a year up front. There is also a month-by-month flexible option for $29.99. Every option comes with a 7-day free trial, cancel any time. Anyone who takes out an annual plan with the fight will get a 20% discount off the Itauma vs Whyte PPV cost. DAZN is available on the best streaming devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple tvOS, Chromecast and most smart TVs. If you're an American stuck abroad, and want to tune into the Itauma vs Whyte live stream on your usual DAZN account, get yourself a VPN such as NordVPN. DAZN is home to some of the biggest showdowns in boxing and beyond — and this is just the beginning. If you're a fan of live sports, especially boxing or pool, a DAZN subscription is a must-have. The Itauma vs Whyte live stream, plus the soon to be announced undercard, is available on DAZN in the U.K.. The DAZN PPV costs £19.99. Remember, you also need a DAZN subscription. DAZN costs £14.99 a month on a 12-month contract, or £24.99 month-to-month, the latter can be canceled any time. An annual subscription will cost £119.99 in the U.K. As mentioned above, if you take out that annual subscription now, you'll get the Itauma vs Whyte PPV for FREE. DAZN is the home of boxing in the U.K., with hundreds of shows live and on demand every year. DAZN subscribers in the U.K. that have a HD-enabled Sky box can register to watch the fight on DAZN 1 HD on channel 429 on Sky here. If you're outside the U.K., you can catch Usyk vs Dubois 2 online as usual with a VPN, such as NordVPN. DAZN Canada is showing the Itauma vs Whyte fight in Canada for a PPV fee of CA$49.99. You'll also need to buy a subscription to DAZN, with prices starting from $19.99 per month on a year-long contract. It's $199.99 if you pay for a full year up front, and $29.99 on a flexible month-by-month basis. Again, if you purchase a year-long subscription, then the PPV cost of the Itauma vs Whyte fight will be waived. DAZN in Canada has the rights to plenty of other sports, too, including Champions League, Europa League and Bundesliga football among much more. Away from Canada right now? You'll need to get yourself a good streaming VPN, such as NordVPN so that you can catch your stream as usual. Let's not forget about boxing fans Down Under, too. The Itauma vs Whyte live stream follows the lead of other countries around the world in that it is also via DAZN. In Australia the PPV fee comes in at AU$49.95. You'll need to buy a subscription too, with prices starting at $13.99 for a 12-month contract. Again, if you select the year's subscription, there will be no cost for the Itauma vs Whyte fight. Unblock your usual stream with NordVPN if you're outside Oz right now. For New Zealand boxing fans wanting to catch the Itauma vs Whyte fight, it's DAZN again, with a PPV cost of NZ$49.95. For the Kiwis, a monthly subscription to the streaming service costs NZ$14.99. New subscribers taking out a year-long plan, costing NZ$149.99, will get the Itauma vs Whyte fight for FREE. Remember, if you're away from NZ at the moment, you might want to consider subscribing to NordVPN so you can catch all your streams as you usually would. For more or less every other country around the world (up to 200 of them, in fact) it's DAZN again for a Itauma vs Whyte live stream, with the vast majority of non-subscribers getting the fight for free if you sign up to a 12-month deal up front. Check out the DAZN homepage to find out how much the PPV costs in your country. Remember, if you're away from home at the minute, you'll need to get yourself a VPN, such as NordVPN so that you can stream all the boxing. No, there are no free Itauma vs Whyte live streams. You'll need to pay for the PPV to watch the action as it happens. Remember, though, if you take a year's subscription to DAZN, the you'll get the fight without a PPV cost (excluding U.S. residents). Moses Itauma Dillian Whyte Nationality U.K. U.K. Date of birth December 28, 2004 April 11, 1988 Height 6' 5" 6' 4" Reach 79" 78" Total fights 12 34 Record 12-0 (10 KOs) 31-3 (21 KOs) Itauma vs Whyte may be the main event, but there's plenty more to enjoy on a stacked undercard that includes big names and even a world title fight. Nick Ball makes the third defense of his WBA featherweight world title against Sam Goodman in the chief support bout. It's the Wrecking Ball's front-foot pressure against the Australian Ghost's movement. The winner is expected to get a shot at pound-for-pound contender Naoya Inoue later in the year. Ray Ford, who lost that WBA strap to Ball just over a year ago, has moved up to super featherweight and takes on Abraham Nova as he seeks his rebuild mission to a world title shot. Elsewhere, Filip Hrgovic takes on David Adeleye in a vital heavyweight contest for two fighters also rebuilding. Hrgovic beat Joe Joyce last time out, but his defeat by Daniel Dubois before that means the 33-year-old Croatian must win to keep his world titles ambitions on track. Adeleye's sole loss came three fights ago to Fabio Wardley but recent wins against Solomon Dacres and Jeamie TKV have given him his first bout a world level. Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte; Heavyweight Nick Ball vs Sam Goodman; Featherweight, for the WBA title Ray Ford vs Abraham Nova; Super featherweight Filip Hrgovic vs David Adeleye; Heavyweight Hayato Tsutsumi vs Qais Ashfaq; Super featherweight We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Paula Radcliffe: Eilish McColgan has a good chance of breaking my British record
There is one mark that's been at the forefront of every female British marathon runner's mind for over two decades. In 2003, Paula Radcliffe set a British marathon record of 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds and in the 22 years since, no British woman has ever bettered that mark, which was a new world record at the time. Indeed, no one has even come close, with the next best time by a Brit a whole six minutes slower than Radcliffe's mark. There is, however, according to the woman who has had such a firm grip on that record for over two decades, one candidate who has the potential to come closer to that record than any other, and perhaps even beat it. That runner who is as likely, if not more likely, to finally break the longstanding British record is Eilish McColgan and given the prediction is coming from Radcliffe herself, it holds more weight than most. McColgan may have been a world-class runner for well over a decade but she remains a novice in marathon terms. The 34-year-old Dundonian made her marathon debut earlier this year, in April's London Marathon, and on her first attempt at 26.2 miles, set a new Scottish record of 2 hours 24 minutes 25 seconds. It was a debut that had been eagerly anticipated given McColgan had initially planned to run her first marathon in 2023 before several injury setbacks caused postponement after postponement of her maiden marathon appearance, Finally, though, she got to the start line in April. McColgan's Scottish record-beating run, which also bettered her mum, Liz McColgan's, best-ever marathon time, was particularly impressive when taking into account both her disrupted preparation, and the fact she ran almost the entirety of the race alone having been separated from the leading pack in the very early stages. Radcliffe was an interested observer of McColgan's marathon debut and she admits she was extremely impressed with how McColgan equipped herself over the 26.2 miles in London. 'Eilish's preparation was maybe a little bit short on volume because of the injury issues but she was really smart in taking her time to get on top of everything and not to do a marathon until she was healthy,' Radcliffe says. 'In London, she spent so much of the race on her own and in no man's land so she should be proud of how well she did given those circumstances because, of course, if you're running alone, it's not going to be as quick as if you're running with others. 'I ran alone in the marathon a few times but most of the times I did that, it was because I was leading and that's a very different feeling to when you know the race is moving away ahead of you. 'So the way Eilish did that race is much tougher than any time I did it. 'Ahead of London, she's been pretty vocal about having set herself the target of bettering her mum's time so to get her mum's record, and the Scottish record, was very good for her first marathon.' Eilish McColgan set a Scottish record on her marathon debut earlier this year (Image: Steve Christo - Corbis) Radcliffe and McColgan may have been competing in different eras but the pair share several similarities including their mentalities and the obstacles they've encountered in their careers, namely injuries. Radcliffe was famous for pushing herself to her physical and psychological limit and McColgan is made from the same mould, which she demonstrated in her gold medal-winning run in the 10,000m final at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. And with Radcliffe's career being ended by injuries, she can empathise with McColgan's injury challenges over the past few years which have seen her race schedule seriously disrupted. McColgan has now rediscovered full fitness but it is, says Radcliffe, a razor-thin line between fitness and injury for all elite marathon runners. 'Injuries are part and parcel of being a marathon runner and most marathon build-ups will have niggles. It's about working out where the line is between a serious injury and a niggle,' the former world champion says. 'I loved the mental challenge of the marathon, though, and I think Eilish will too because I think she's the type of person who does relish that. 'On race day, I did feel like it was a little bit of a game in terms of you're hurting, but how long can you ignore it and keep going?' The next milestone for McColgan, now she has her hands on the Scottish record is, of course, Radcliffe's British record. To take the Englishwoman's record, McColgan, whose next competitive outing will be at next month's Great North Run over 13.1 miles, will need to slice nine minutes from her debut marathon time which is, clearly, a sizeable chunk. It's not an improvement that'll happen overnight but Radcliffe is confident that as the Scot gains experience over the distance, she'll get closer and closer to the fabled mark. 'I think, and Eilish would probably agree, that at the moment she's still more comfortable and more solid over the 10k and the half marathon distance. But that's absolutely not to say that in the future that can't change,' says Radcliffe. Paula Radcliffe set her current British record back in 2003 (Image: Getty Images) 'I hit the ground running with the marathon - it went amazing the very first time I ran it but that's probably unusual because you look at other really successful marathon runners like Haile Gebrselassie or Paul Tergat and they took a while to settle into the marathon. 'After my first marathon, in my lifetime, I only improved about three minutes whereas other people improved a lot more from their marathon debut so everyone's very different. 'What I've noticed with Eilish, over the years, is it can take her a bit of time to learn a new distance so she just needs a little bit more time to feel really comfortable with the marathon. 'She's now experienced the marathon and I think Eilish has got as good a shot, if not a better shot, than almost anyone else at breaking my British record. 'I don't think it's unachievable for her - the thing about the marathon is getting it right on the day. 'I think she can go quicker than she did in London so it's just a question of how much quicker.'
