Dear Members

I am delighted to be writing to you as the fully elected Chairman of our wonderful SHLTC. This is further to the successful vote at the EGM on 18th April, being formalised via election at our first Committee meeting on 24th April.

First, a note of thanks to Mike Tarrier, Steve Goldman, Sandra Gregg, John Boesinger, Sharon Walker, and Li Guang for their huge contribution over an eyewatering 37 years on the Committee. I think it goes without saying that without their efforts we would not have a tennis club, and I would like to extend my thanks again to Mike for his support to me in forming this new Committee. We are looking forward to working together to form an orderly transition and have been lucky enough to retain John and Sharon on the new Committee, so this will assist us greatly.

Please join me in thanking the new Committee members for stepping up. I have listed the team below and our contact details can be found on the website at: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SuttonHighfieldsLTC/Contact

Katy Wilson - Chairman
Geoff Smout - Treasurer
Steve Hainsworth - Secretary
Paul Waton & John Boesinger - Joint Grounds and Health & Safety Manager 
Don Brown - Men's CaptainJane Liddall - Ladies’ Captain
Vanessa Whitehurst - Social Secretary
Dmitry Skorokhod - Social Media Manager
Raj & Niket Rameth - Joint Junior Liaisons Manager
Adrian King-Owen - Club Coach

For those of you who didn’t attend the EGM, I relayed our Vision for the club, and this is available on the website at https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SuttonHighfieldsLTC/ABOUTUS/OURVISION and attached here for your ease of reference. I will be setting out quarterly objectives for us and these will be shared in the May 2018 Chairman’s Newsletter at some point over the next couple of weeks. This will include the club’s planned social calendar for 2018, key updates in relation to club sessions and further info on the club competition. In advance of this I would like to provide you with some key updates:

• We plan to freshen up the clubhouse over the coming weeks and we welcome any handy people who can volunteer their services in respect of painting and general DIY. Please reply to this email or contact paulwaton@talktalk.net if you feel you can help – as soon as poss

• Wednesday club session will kick off next Wednesday, 2nd May from 18:00 – please come and mix in

• Tennis club session on the first Sunday of the month will take place between 14:00 – 16:00 and will be followed by “Tea & Biscuits”. This will run throughout May, June, July and August, effective from 5th May.  On 6th June there will be a joint Boules and Tennis Pimms event (tea and biscuits will still be available)

• The Wimbledon Ballot draw will take place during Tea & Biscuits at 4.15pm on Sunday, 5th May

• Our first major social event will be held on Saturday, 19th May from 2pm, in honour of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. This event will be a relaxed affair of afternoon tea and drinks, some tennis coaching on court 1, and a kids’ activity in the clubhouse. This will be a ticketed event and open to the local community as well as SHLTC members. Further details to follow

• Tennis Finals Day will be on Saturday, 8th September. The exact time is to be confirmed, but please book out this day in your calendars as we plan for this to be our major annual event, with a barbeque and drinks, and formal umpiring. This will replace the Club Summer BBQ planned for 24th June

• You‘ll receive some comms from our newly appointed Ladies’ and Men’s Captains, Jane Liddall and Don Brown respectively, in relation to registering your interest for the leagues and friendly matches. Please do get involved, or drop them a line for more info

Please bear with us whilst we get things up and running but in the meantime, you can contact the team at SuttonHighfieldsLTC@hotmail.com or me personally at taffmeister116@gmail.com. The other Committee members’ contact details are on the website.

I hope you will join us on 19th May, if not to toast the Royal couple, to raise a glass to the future of our tennis club.

Best wishes

Katy Wilson

Chairman, Sutton Highfields Lawn and Tennis Club