We are so pleased, for so many reasons, to say that we have now expanded into Scotland with our LPG brand. Elena had a very special relationship with Scotland, actually living there for many years, having the status of Scottish No.1 tennis player and receiving Scottish Female Player of the year on numerous occasions.

We are so pleased, for so many reasons, to announce that we have now expanded into Scotland with our LPG brand. My wife Elena had a very special relationship with Scotland, she lived there for many years, had the status of Scottish No.1 tennis player and also received the title of Scottish Female Player of the year on many occasions.

Sharon McFadzean, pictured above, is the proud owner of Learn Play Grow Glasgow. She has a very special role as the first owner to fly the LPG flag in Scotland, which ultimately plays a big part of Elena’s legacy. Glasgow is presenting exciting possibilities for our brand, in terms of the LPG expansion and the effect that we can have on children’s lives. My role of ensuring my wife’s legacy of impacting children’s lives through sport, in a positive way, continues to go from strength to strength.

Elena, affectionately known as Bally, had a very strong connection with Scotland. She grew up in Scotland, learning tennis in the Glasgow area during her younger years, as a senior player, and she agreed to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Games in India. Elena was so proud to fly the flag for Scotland, and was always excited when she was awarded Female player of the year.

After we launched The Elena Baltacha Foundation, Bally asked Judy Murray if she would give us the honour of becoming our Patron. Judy and Bally were very close, not only as Great Britain Fed Cup player and Fed Cup Captain, but also on a personal level. We travelled up to Stirling with the foundation players on a number of occasions to work with Judy, who gave her time to Bally’s players during our visit.

 

Bally and I also had the honour of being part of the Great Britain Tennis Olympic Team led by Senior coach, Judy Murray. The Olympic tennis tournament was held at the world famous Wimbledon Club, I remember this experience so vividly, and the role Judy played in terms of supporting Bally during our preparations.

I now continue this special relationship with Scotland, and spent this weekend in Glasgow attending a fundraising event in the name of my wife, called “Rally for Bally”. Both Sharon and her husband Richard spent the whole day with me. It was a fantastic day, not only celebrating Bally, but also chatting about the many ways we would work together to make LPG Glasgow a great success. It was fantastic to see Judy still honouring Bally and everything she represented by attending the event, spending all day entertaining the crowds who attended. 

This is why I am so very, very passionate about Scotland. I want to take very special care of Bally’s legacy, but also, I know that if Bally was by my side now, we both would have fulfilled our dream of buying a lovely little house in her beloved Bonnie Scotland and would have spent many happy trips there together.

-Nino Severino, Co-Founder