This is just the time of year when we are looking towards the season. Please note that Early Bird membership will close on 15th May and after that we are not able to action it on the website. If you have been on holiday please get on to it as soon as possible.

Unfortunately we are looking to someone to help at the club with the gardening and keeping the borders clear of weeds. If you are able to help can you please let a member of the committee know or just drop a message through the post box.

On 18th May the club are running a Road to Wimbledon Tournament for U14’s. If you want to enter or know someone who might want to please let Ben Rushby know and he can give you more details. It will take place in the afternoon so the courts will not be available to play on on that day. The court booking system is working well and may save you a wasted trip if you fancy a ‘hit’ and want to know if there is a spare court, Please check the website.

We are also trying to set up a system whereby you can organise a ‘four’ or ‘two’ to play friendly matches during the day or at a weekend. We are hoping to set up a ‘Whats App’ group whereby you send out to say you are free to play perhaps one afternoon or day and are looking for opposition. We are not sure how this may work but the courts are free to play on for members during their spare time and it may be a way fo seeing who is available and when. If you are interested in this please send your mobile number to Ben Rushby who has agreed to coordinate this system to see if it works. After all its costs nothing!!!!

News about the Portacabin is still continuing. The group of Jeremy Fisk, Steve Rigg, Simon Peck, Grant Redfern and John Woodward are looking into developments including getting quotes and looking for funding. It is proposed to turn the present cabin into a toilet with limited changing facilities and erect a new portacabin on the grass area between the new court and court three. We have to look at preparing a base and getting plumbing and electricity to the new cabin and most expensively a septic tank for the chalet!

Unfortunately Shanti Hunter is no longer able to continue as the Safeguarding Officer for the club and we thank her for her help in the past. It is an LTA stipulation that each club has a fully trained Safeguarding Officer in place so we are looking for someone to take on this important position. If you know of anyone or would like to take on the challenge please get in touch with Jeremy Fisk or again put a note through the post box on site.

Starting this month we are running an American Tournament on Friday 17th May. At this event people come along and draw for their first partner, play a mixed doubles ‘round’ of 4 serves, then swap with their opposition for the next 4 serves. We then pause for refreshments before starting the next round when you will have new pairings and go again. Please bring along your own refreshments (alcohol encouraged!!!) for in between rounds. This is free to club members and non-members are able to come at a fee of £5. If you want to know more and want to enter please get in touch with Steve Rigg at Steve.rigg@btinternet.com or 07470555174

Other things to look out for in Fridays in June is a visit from Keith Reynolds to give a masterclass practical session on the Mental side of the game. This is free to members too but non-members are encouraged to attend at a fee of £5.

Hope to see as many of you as possible at the Family Fun Nights on 3rd May and the first Friday in each month up until September