Welcome to the 2023/24 season! 

Happily, 2022 saw a smooth return to normality after the Covid 19 pandemic and has been a rewarding and eventful year for the Club.  It has been another year of highly enjoyable tennis both in the Basingstoke Leagues and socially. I would like, on behalf of the Committee, to express my sincere thanks to you all for your support during the year and for your forbearance and understanding during the heatwaves in July and August. Below are some of our achievements.

• After a huge amount of hard work and thanks to the support of over 80 people, the Club has been granted planning permission by the Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council to install floodlights on courts 2-4.  At the time of writing we are awaiting to receive permission from our landlords, the Old Basing & Lychpit Parish Council,  to proceed and the installation can then commence.
• An Unveiling Ceremony took place in the Spring to mark the installation of a defibrillator attended by the then Mayor of Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, Onnalee Cubit and her Consort, Hugo, together with other Councillors.  It was the first time the Club had had mayoral representation and it was a fabulous opportunity to promote the Club in the local community.
• Our membership stands at 118 and we anticipate that this will rise this year after the floodlights have been installed. This is almost double the number we had before Covid-19 and   we continue to work hard in an attempt to attract new members.
• Our club nights on Tuesdays and Fridays continue to be a success with pleasing attendance rates. The Sunday Social Sessions are proving popular as is the newly introduced Wednesday afternoon session. We very much hope that this will continue in 2023.
• The Summer Tournament and BBQ was a resounding success and thoroughly enjoyed by the players and the spectators.  The introduction of a handicap doubles event for both men’s and ladies had a mixed reception with some members not realising they had to opt out.  Those members who did play in the event had a great time, and this event will continue but we will revert to the opting in method of entry.
• Our two in-house coaches continue to support the Club and we aim to offer junior coaching as well in 2023.
• We are entering seven teams in the Basingstoke Leagues this year comprising three men’s, two ladies’ and two mixed teams.
• The Club has offered regular social events during the year including several walks and pub lunches in the local countryside, an excellent quiz night in Lychpit Village Hall and a Christmas meal at the Bartons Mill.
• In the Summer, for the first time, the Club set up a stall offering activities for passers-by run by volunteers for a Village Fun Day, organised by the Old Basing Scouts and Guides Hall Management Committee. The aim was to help to secure funding for a new hall.

Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to all the members of the Committee and other members for freely giving up their time to support the Club. The latter perform clubhouse cleaning, court maintenance and child welfare duties to name some. Without the hard work and enthusiasm shown by all we would not be in such a healthy position.

We welcome people of all abilities so if you have any relatives or friends who have not played for a while or would simply like to have a go at the game in convivial company, please contact a member of the Committee. They will be assured of a friendly welcome.

I look forward to meeting you on court or at our social events.

Meanwhile, have fun and enjoy your tennis.

Nigel Hatt 

Chair