THE sun shines on the righteous. And the lefteous. Jamie Murray, whose serving and volleying is from a southpaw perspective, brought the world No.1 doubles ranking, the Davis Cup and the sunshine to Dunblane yesterday.

It was, then, a special homecoming. It was marked with visits to spots that have shaped and made the 30-year-old. There was no immediate confirmation of a scoffing of his granny’s shortbread but the other trips were extraordinarily visible.

Murray Major visited Dunblane primary school, high school and tennis club. It was almost a reprise of Murray Minor’s visit home in 2012 when he stopped the traffic, accompanied by an Olympic gold and silver medal and by the realisation that he had won his first grand slam, the US Open.

The brothers are distinct personalities but both share certain beliefs and values. The respect for family and home is paramount. The feeling for Dunblane is unbreakable. The link with the community and the enormity of its tragedy of 20 years ago is unbreakable. It is almost unspeakable too. There is also a deep dignity and warm appreciation on both sides. There is no need for fulsome outpourings. The Murrays and Dunblane give each other a quiet nod of recognition in passing. This, of course, is followed by roars of approval, certainly from the community.

Jamie is now an undoubted celebrity. One primary school pupil asked Judy Murray yesterday if it was “the real Jamie Murray” who was coming to her school. The youngster was suitably delighted when informed that a substitute had not been drafted in for the day. The pupil’s classmates were similarly enthusiastic, waving self-drawn posters proclaiming the greatness of all things Jamie. There was a question and answer session in both schools and a public interview outside the tennis club where hundreds gathered.

But this was much more than a celebrity visit. Yes, autographs were signed. Yes, one could have one’s photie taken with the Davis Cup (the only world trophy that makes one look slim) and, yes, there was applause and acclamation.

But it was telling that at every stop off point, every spare space, Jamie wanted to play tennis. This was not just a personal indulgence, a desire to recreate an energetic, enjoyable past, though there may just have been a smidgeon of warm remembrance when he stepped onto the synthetic courts of the club. It was more about spreading a family message. Tennis is good. Tennis is fun. And one does not have to have won grand slam titles to accept that truth.

This is why there was an effort to showcase the game throughout the day. It was why the Tennis on the Road team, led by his mum and aided by the redoubtable Kris Soutar, set up in Dunblane of a Tuesday. This is basically a mission in a white van. It has travelled throughout Scotland, answering every call to spread the tennis gospel.

There is a profound concern that not enough children are jumping through the window of opportunity opened by Andy and Jamie. It is an issue that is being addressed, not least by Blane Dodds, chairman of Tennis Scotland, who was with Jamie in Dunblane yesterday.

“We want to take tennis in Scotland forward and build on days like this,” he said as the children of the primary school gathered to greet their hero. He added: “This shows the power of the Murray brand. We have huge role models and children want to play the game. We have to do everything to make sure they have the chance to do so.”

It was another day on court for mother, Judy. But there was the unusual sight of her older son alongside her on the courts where they played as a family two decades ago

“The boys live elsewhere and travel the world but this is still home for them, very much so,” said Judy. “I was quite emotional this morning. You walk into the high school and enter Murray Hall, a tribute to the boys. This is why we are coming back to the two schools Jamie attended because there is very much a bond there.”

She added as she and her son prepared for drills with children: “Jamie is an elite sportsman, no.1 in the world, but he loves these sort of sessions because they are about sport in the community. How sport can be good for everyone, no matter the standard you play it. It is incredible going back to the tennis club. The memories always flood back when one of the boys is there. I just remember them as two little boys having fun, hitting balls. It is very difficult to take in that they are both grand slam winners and won the Davis Cup.”

At the club, Jamie said: “It has been nice to see so many people to come out to see the trophy and see me, I guess. It is nice to be back in Dunblane, I always miss it, I get back two or three times a year but it is never for very long.” Jamie, who won the Australian Open with partner Bruno Soares, was pleased at the number of his partners yesterday as children swamped the makeshift courts at the primary school and at the tennis club.

“There are a lot of kids out there trying tennis for the first time, getting used to having a racquet in their hands,” he said. “This is super important because we are trying to get them at such a young age as possible. It is a game for life, it is not easy to just pick up and start playing, so the younger we can get them playing, the better.”

He was also supportive of his mother’s attempts to have a tennis and golf centre just outside Dunblane. Planning permission has been refused but an appeal has been made to Scottish ministers. “She should have her centre if we want to try to make the most of what we have been doing on the court, especially Andy. To make the most of that and help future generations that would definitely going a long way towards it,” he said.

He shivered in the warmth of the clubhouse after realising that sun in Dunblane does not necessarily mean warmth. “I’ve become a southern softie,” he said. He has not, of course. He will always be a Dunblane boy. The town knows it. And so does his granny, Shirley. She spent the afternoon making tea in the clubhouse.

It is that kind of town, that kind of club, that kind of family.