After 12 long winter weeks with no play at the club, we’re back and raring to go. Gates opened at 9am this morning, Monday 29 March 2021 and the first on court at 09.10 were senior members, Pete and Kath Toon, pictured here.

Neither have been down to the club since the start of the November lockdown and they have been counting down the days to the spring re-opening. It was a glorious morning but as Kath explained: “Even if it had been throwing it down we’d have been here!”

Social distancing is still a priority and members will need to check in to the club using the NHS App or the paper sign in (and out) system. It goes without saying that if you have covid symptoms then you must not come down.

For the present, the clubhouse is still out of bounds although toilets can be used and the emergency first aid kit accessed.

Members are reminded that there is now an online booking system. It’s not compulsory and as daytime court availability is unlikely to be a problem many will continue to just ‘come on down’.

Please note booking will not be available during club social nights between 6pm and 8pm on:

• Mondays for mixed tennis;
• Tuesdays for men’s priority night;
• Wednesdays for ladies’ priority night.

However, as in the past, members can still come to the club on those evenings and, provided there are courts not in use for the social mix-in tennis, they can simply get on court and play.

For the time being the rule of six is being applied to social tennis so for social sessions there should be no more than six players on court – 4 playing and two waiting to mix in. With the number of courts we have, this should not present any difficulties.