Grandparents of Andy Murray die weeks apart

News imageSNS Roy and Shirley Erskine holding a photo of Andy Murray after his victory in the 2004 Junior US OpenSNS
Roy and Shirley Erskine holding a photo of Andy Murray after his victory in the 2004 Junior US Open

The maternal grandparents of tennis stars Andy and Jamie Murray have died weeks apart.

Roy and Shirley Erskine, the parents of Judy Murray, were prominent supporters of the brothers' careers.

Former footballer Roy, who played for Hibernian, Stirling Albion and Cowdenbeath, died on 19 January at the age of 94.

Shirley is understood to have died last week.

The couple were well known around Dunblane, near Stirling.

News imagePA Media Andy Murray, left, with his grandad, Roy Erskine, right, at the 2010 Wimbledon championshipsPA Media
Andy Murray with grandad Roy Erskine at the 2010 Wimbledon championships

Roy had been a tennis player in his youth and reached the semi-final of the Scottish Boys' championships.

He gave up tennis after choosing to follow his football career with Hibs, the team he supported.

He also later trained as an optician.

In a tribute, his former club Stirling Albion said he was a "well-known and popular figure" who would be "sorely missed".

News imageSNS Judy Murray, bottom left, in front of Shirley Erskine, centre, and Roy Erskine, top right.SNS
Shirley, centre, and Roy, right, take in a Davis Cup match with daughter Judy, bottom left.

Posting online, their granddaughter, actress Ailsa Erskine, said her grandmother "lit up every room she walked into".

She added: "I will miss her so much but there will not be a day that goes by that I won't think of her and take a little bit of her with me.

"What a life she led and I will count my lucky stars to have grown up with such a light of a woman in my life.

"Say hi to Grandpa for me. Love you so much."