We hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy and coping with the current restrictions to daily life. I genuinely feel for those under stress due to the present situation and I'm sure we are all missing our tennis and socialising and look forward to the day when we are allowed back on court. Despite this, we do remain a network of members and friendship groups and I realise many of you are keeping in contact through phone calls and emails, digital media and hopefully the odd virtual drinks party. 

Of course, the Club must remain closed through to May 7th at the earliest, as we await the news on when and how restrictions will be reduced. I assure you we will waste no time in re-opening the Club when allowed and advising the guidelines that go with that. We have retained our cleaners who fortnightly come in to do a 'deep clean' of the clubhouse. Likewise our gardener who this week trimmed the bushes that we would normally do on Maintenance days.

The Lockdown has given many of us a lot of time we don't normally have and I, along with many members of the Management Committee, have been able to take this time to focus on the future of the Club, and what an exciting future it is. There is so much to report that if I try to pass on all the news in one report I guarantee that you would be asleep by the end !

So instead, I will send out a series of communications over the coming days and weeks on the following topics, many of which may be of interest to you. These include:-

• New court surface for Court 1 
• Transfer of land from Richard Ashness to the Club
• Membership renewals and finances
• Growing the membership
• Enhanced use of social media
• Investigation into Padel Tennis (option on new land)
• Support from LTA 
• Kids' Tennis At Home Ideas 

Many of you have been asking about what we will do about the Club Tournament. Kim has polled the Tennis Committee and the majority view is that we should not cancel yet but wait until we have further news on the restrictions. If at all possible we would like to ahead, remembering that League matches are unlikely to go ahead, relieving court pressure and providing a much needed outlet.

Like me, I'm sure you're wondering when the Covid-19 pandemic is going to end. I sincerely hope that its impact on your families, work and health has not been too traumatic, although I fear before this is through that we will all know somebody who has experienced illness or tragedy.

Take Care, Stay Safe, Stay Fit and Healthy, Stay Sane

David Burton, Chairman.