December newsletter 2023

Happy New Year  and Welcome 2024! 

Jim Lightbody   President 2000 -2004

Sadly this month we lost Jim Lightbody who was Club President at the start of the 21st century. 

Welsh Sports Association Hall of Fame Unsung Hero Award 2005

Funeral Service will be held on Friday 5th January 2024, 11.00am at Uniting Church Sketty, Dillwyn Road, Sketty, Swansea, SA29AH., and afterwards at Norton House Hotel, Mumbles. 

Jim arrived in Swansea in 1960 from Greenock Scotland as Managing Director of a small company Trevor Jones Limited in Landore. 

His involvement in tennis spread over 40 years as a player, a coach, a referee and volunteering administrative roles. He thoroughly enjoyed team tennis competing for South Gower in the South Wales leagues. He enjoyed coaching young players of all levels and voluntarily coached in local parks, South Gower Sports club, then took teams to local competition, junior county and Welsh national teams to competitions creating further opportunities and experiences for developing players.

Following hip surgery, he took up refereeing and officiated the Welsh Hard-Court Championships, City of Swansea Junior Open (Langland Bay), South Wales Closed Championships and the Welsh Junior National Championships as well as the Home Nations Events (Junior Adult and Seniors). He gradually became more and more involved in the administration of tennis in Wales. Following many years chairing the various coaching, competitions and junior development committees for Tennis Wales, South Wales LTA and West Glamorgan he became President of Swansea Tennis and Squash Club, Tennis Wales on 2 occasions, South Wales and chaired the Tennis Wales board progressing The Welsh Lawn Tennis association into Tennis Wales Limited.

In 1997 he was awarded the Tennis Wales all time achievement award for services to tennis, then the LTA Meritorious service Award for over 25 years of service to Welsh Tennis.

While so many saw the hard work, devotion, and passion, he thoroughly enjoyed it and the 

colleagues he worked with continuing to officiate and volunteer.

A highlight for him was being presented with the Sport Wales Unsung Hero award entering the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

He took great pleasure in seeing so many of these young players developing careers and stay in tennis playing, coaching, managing. or administrating – most importantly enjoying the game.

Other news 

Tennis - 

The weather has been against tennis for much of the month - but looking forward to 2024. Reminder:  clay should be removed from your footwear before you leave the courts. Thank you to the volunteers brushing the steps regularly. It is open to all to assist. Brushes, dustpans and rubble sacks are conveniently provided under the balcony. This will prevent clay in your car, throughout your house as well as in the club house / changing rooms, squash courts  and all manner of other places. 

Squash

Mix in night - Returns Friday 5th January Ladies 5.30 General 6.45.-  All are welcome. 

Tournament matches - 14 events are being run this year  - results will be updated in the club house.

 A Team - were successful in their final winter season match against Cardiff winning 20 points to 2. This secured them to top spot in the South Wales Premier League.  Aiming for a second season win to secure the overall title. Watch this space. 

B, C & D Team  will all compete in West Central 1 

E team remain secure in West Central 2  

Good Luck for the next season. 

Ladies Racketball for all abilities returns on Dec 3rd 1pm. 

Events 

Several successful social events took place throughout December with the Christmas Party and several other smaller festive gatherings including tinsel tennis & wackers xmas tournament. . 

January - Poker night - The next planned date is January 26th. Let Craig know if you’d like to join in on 07855 269495.

Thanks  to 

Volunteers who decorated the Clubhouse for Christmas.

Those sweeping clay from steps and paths. 

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy 2024.