Newsletter 46                                      February 2023

It was good to see many of you at the Club dinner at the Durleighmarsh Tea Barn.  Many thanks to Alison Grange for organising.  It was a very enjoyable occasion, with excellent food and enlivened by Alison’s light-hearted quiz, including some fiendish “dingbats”.  This newsletter looks forward to the new season - just five weeks aways – with information about the renewals process and two free “Rusty Rackets” sessions led by coach Richard Hopp.  We also expect to be holding our AGM early in the new season – probably in May.  More details in due course.

2023 Subscriptions.  The good news is that our amazingly low subscriptions will not be going up (unlike so much else), so will be greater value than ever:  a miniscule £15 for juniors/students, just £45 for adults, and a mega-bargain £85 for couples or a family of up to five. Whatever subscription you take, it works out at less than £2 a month per head. We will be sending out membership renewal invitations to everyone over the next two weeks or so.  Payments are due by 1 April.  Please try to renew promptly as the access codes will change shortly thereafter. 

Renewal process. Most members have now registered themselves and/or their household on ClubSpark and will receive an e-mail which enables them to check their contact details and renew quickly and simply on-line.  

If you are not on ClubSpark, you will receive an e-mail with an application form to fill in and return.  If you have not registered on ClubSpark and would like to do so, please let me know and I will send you a link to make this easy – it is just like registering a shopping account on-line. As well as providing a paperless way of updating your membership details and renewing, registering with ClubSpark allows you to book one of our courts on-line.  (If you are a member pf the LTA Advantage scheme - formerly BTM - you can link ClubSpark to your existing LTA account and will not need to set up a new password). 

If you can, we would prefer you to pay by internet/telephone banking  or -  if using ClubSpark – through the on-line one-off Direct Debit facility.   We do still take cheques, but these ways of transferring money are safer, quicker and require less administration.

Rusty Rackets.  Many of you will have been playing throughout the winter on our excellent new surface but if you are feel you would like to brush up some of your skills, why not come along to one of our free sessions. at 2.15 pm on Monday 20 and 27 March, led by Richard Hopp. Places are limited and some will be available to non-members as we hope to encourage some former players to get back on court.  So, get your name down quickly (adults only), by e-mailing the club (address below) or contact Amanda directly on 07557259011 while spaces are available.     

Other updates.  

• Family day. The event provisionally planned for 22 April will not be taking place, but we hope to arrange something later in the season.
• Junior Coaching.  Richard Hopp’s after school coaching sessions will take place on Thursdays, rather than Fridays.

Amanda Farren, Chair

                        Richard Hatfield, Secretary