REVAMPED BENCH:   Thank you so much to new member Matt Cannon who got this done for us.  It was made by the prisoners from the Mount prison in Bovingdon.  It's all English Oak from the Queen Mothers Estate in Hitchin seasons for 12 months.  Donated very generously by Roughstuff Oak.  https://roughstuffoak.co.uk/

QR CODE:  After discussion, because we are not an indoor venue offering hospitality, there is no need for us to register for this service or display a poster.  We are still required by the LTA to keep records of our court users.  "To support NHS Test and Trace, venues should keep a temporary record of all those on site for 21 days, in a way that is manageable, and assist NHS Test and Trace with requests for that data if needed".   

For all our club socials  we have a Registration form online which you can find on our website under PLAY on on the description of our Club Tennis Social WhatsApp group.  Please do not register ahead of the day because the record can only be deleted by Rebecca and John Bain.  You can also register after you have been at social.  

MATCH SEASON:  

The 3 teams entered into the Aylesbury District Winter League 19/20 finished the season as follows

Ladies – Top of Division 8

Men – Second in Division 7

Mixed – Third in Division 5

The new season which officially started on the 1st October sees Bovingdon enter two teams in each category.  There are Ladies teams in Division 7 and 9, Men’s teams in Division 8 and 9 and Mixed Teams in Division 5 and 7.  The season runs until the end of April 21: there should be plenty of competitive tennis to go round.

If anyone would like to play please contact Club Team Captain Ali Lyons who will put you in contact with the correct Team Captain for Ladies A/B, Mens A/B and Mixed A/B

FACILITIES UPDATE

- Car Park: T’s have been put down with block pavers to show people where to park. The plan is to also put these along next to the hedge to try to fit more spaces in. 

- Car Park sign has been redone on a new post

- The defibrillator now has a new battery- we are looking at the possibility of putting this outside the clubhouse in a box

- The hitting wall project is a priority and we have had quotes.

-  We are looking to replace the post protectors on courts 1-3 to something more conservative.  The existing ones will go onto courts 4 & 5.

-  Viewing fence- panels are being put at each end to stop the balls going out.  Thank you to Dave Seddon for his help with this.

-  Leaf Blowers are both fuelled and accessible in the shed .  A diferent padlock has been put on the shed so that members don’t have to go into the clubhouse to get the key.

- We have new solar lights lining the path.

- Extra sanitiser dispensers are going up.

AGM Announcement

As many of you will be aware the club normally holds its AGM in October, as per our Constitution.   We have delayed announcing a date because of the evolving situation but  as a result of current Government regulations, and in particular the restrictions on public gatherings which took effect from September 24th it is now clear that it will not be possible to hold a physical meeting in the foreseeable future.  

When the Constitution was drafted no-one could have anticipated the possibility of a pandemic and it offers no guidance as to what to do in these circumstances.  Although we are not a charity we are a small non-profit organisation and we have looked at Charity Commission guidance on AGMs as best practice.  Where it is not possible or advisable to hold an AGM they suggest a meeting can be cancelled or deferred.  However, with no way of knowing when meeting in person might be possible again the committee is looking at how we might do this virtually online. 

The aim is to include any member wishing to take part and we intend that all the usual features of an AGM will be included.  To facilitate matters we anticipate circulating copies of the Chairman’s and Treasurer’s reports in advance of the meeting together with any ancillary documents that may be needed.  Election of Committee members will also take place.  We may ask for submission of questions in advance and will use a moderator to help manage proceedings.  

This will be a new experience for all of us and the details are yet to be fully worked out.  To allow time for preparation and give us the best chance of a successful meeting we are going to defer the meeting into November.  Provided we are satisfied that we can hold the AGM satisfactorily then we will issue formal notice of the date no later than Monday 26th October with the aim of holding the meeting on Monday, November 16th.     

Instructions on how to join the AGM will be circulated to all members with the formal notice.  

Martin Allen

Chair

JACKSON:  The Medical Detection Dog

Jackson is now 10 months old and moving on to a new socialiser to introduce him to different environment’s to progress through his training. He first came to the tennis club as a puppy in arms around 11weeks old and has maintained a love of tennis balls, particularly for scent training ever since.

He may be considered to be an alert dog for a condition called POTS, alerting his handler before a fit, or given his love of tennis balls he may progress along the covid -19 detection route, it’s too early to decide at present.  

Please take a look at the the following website for more information on these amazing dogs and their work:  https://www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk/