Maureen Laffey

Dear Maureen - still struggle to not call you Miss Liffey- first met you as my form tutor at ST Bernard’s. You were such a good friend to me and my family - and I still hold dear the words you said to me in our last phone call. Rest now in peace.

Miss Laffey was my Information Systems tutor at St Bernard’s . When I was going through a really rough time she was the only teacher who took the time to help me. She helped me catch up so I didn’t fail my GCSE’s and I got a B in I.S thanks to her help. I was really lucky to be taught by such a kind woman. She was the reason I decided to go into teaching. Rest in Peace x

I was very saddened to hear the news of Maureen’s passing. I remember my first meeting with Maureen at a teachers’ course in Buckinghamshire in 1988. We talked about tennis for some considerable time, and I mentioned that I had always wondered what it was like to call a line at Wimbledon; Maureen replied by saying that she would get me on a training course within a few weeks, which she did, and we became close friends. I was appointed to be a line umpire at Wimbledon in 1989 and I was in a team with some really nice people, one of whom was to become my future wife. I will always be grateful to Maureen for introducing me to tennis officiating, supporting me as a teacher and for bringing Kath into my life.

Shocked and saddened at Maureen's passing. She has been part of my tennis officiating since I started in 1985. I learned so much from her. Maureen,you will be sorely missed . R.I.P.

On the occasion of Maureen's 70th birthday in 2020 I wrote this poem and read it to her on a group Skype call with many of her friends. Our Maureen There once was a lady who taught Maths, But now deals with all our ABTO cash, She was the boss in the Buttery, And did tickets a-swappery, And we’ve affectionately known her as ‘Fag-Ash’, Then one day she got hit by cancer, Well there’s no way that was gonna beat her! She had her op and took all her medicines, And surprisingly did what she was meant to, But kept her eye on the tennis, and of course, Rafa! Now she’s back to her wild games of bridge, There’s always ice and a slice in the fridge, Her friends that are plenty, Wish her well as she turns seventy, That’s our Maureen, and we applaud all her courage! Happy 70th Birthday, Maureen. And now an emotional post script: The news on May 4th was such a blow, And our emotions are swaying to and fro, her great work in tennis a success, And with her decisions you dare not mess, It wasn't her choice not to stay, she had to go. I miss you Maureen, more than words can say. God bless xxx

I am shocked and saddened to hear of Maureen's passing, she was my form tutor at St Bernards RC School and is one of the only teachers I can really remember, she was a tough cookie but also kind and caring, I always felt i could go to her for anything! RIP Miss Laffey xx

Shocked and saddened by the news. What a wonderful and loving person Maureen was.Less than two months ago we spoke on the phone when she donated to the charity I was involved in..Because that's who she was ,always willing to help others.We will miss you dearly.Rest in Peace Maureen.

I was shocked and saddened to learn of Maureen's passing while working a tennis event in the US. That "moving day" is anticipated for each of us, but it's never easy to accept when it happens suddenly. Linda and I will miss visiting and working with Maureen at The Championships. I will miss our morning drive into work where we had a chance to talk about various topics not always involving tennis. The light of the world is a little dimmer now, but oh how the light of Heaven shines a little brighter. Farewell, my friend!