Club Awards
SUGGESTION SCHEME AND LITTLEWOOD AWARD
These are two schemes for which the club rewards its members annually.
SUGGESTION SCHEME
WBTC has operated a Suggestion Scheme since 2008 with a view to giving all members the opportunity of helping to shape the way the Club is run. We actively encourage all members to participate and as an incentive the Committee votes for a ‘Suggestion of the Year’ from all those ideas that are implemented in part or in full immediately or at some planned future date. The winner announced at the AGM each November is presented with a trophy to be held for a year.
Winners to date are as follows:
2009 – Alex Peperell – Any future fifth court should be laid with an astro surface.
2010 – Carol Stammers – Put trellis and plants in front of the portaloo to increase privacy.
2011 – John Kyan – Put a courtesy light on the entrance gate to assist locking up after dark.
2012 – Bernie Rochester – Purchase a defibrillator for the Club.
2013 – Phil Le Grand – Introduce an online booking system for courts.
2014 – Heather Davis – Start participating in the Jack Petchey Award Scheme.
2015 – Jon Gustard – Introduce a Singles Ladder and a Singles Club session.
2016 – Rhys Smithson – Introduce a ‘Buddy Scheme’ for new members.
2017 – Sam Smoker – Purchase a Smart TV for the pavilion.
2018 – Emma Gunton – Introduce an information sheet for juniors and their parents.
2019 – Belinda Hay – A board to display current award / tournament winners.
2020 - Award postponed due to COVID and suggestions will roll over and be included next year.
2021 – John Chamberlain – Granting free or subsidised membership.
2022 – Wendy Firkins – Display accident procedure and keep First Aid provision supplied.
2023 – Julia Smithson – Install Wi-Fi in the pavilion.
2024 – George Corden – Install etiquette signs to not cross courts when a game is in play.
2025 – Bryan Smith - reinstate Tuesday evening mixed Club Sessions.
LITTLEWOOD AWARD FOR ENDEAVOUR OR ACHIEVEMENT
This annual award was introduced at the request of Bryan and Thelma Littlewood, founding members of the Tennis Club who felt that recognition should be given to members for their contribution to the Club in any given year or over time. Individuals can be nominated by members and the Committee decides on a winner from those nominated. A Silver Salver donated by Bryan and Thelma is presented to the winner at the AGM each November and held for a year.
Winners to date are as follows:
2006 – Alan Phillips for liaising with the BHSA as the Club’s representative, producing plans and documents connected with the move from Snows Corner to the sports field including the floodlighting proposal for courts 1&2.
2007 – Jan Rochester for leading a planning appeal against a temporary planning permission and securing floodlighting on courts 1&2.
2008 – Muriel Stephens for her work on the Committee as Club Secretary since 1985, producing members’ lists, typing up Committee minutes and arranging distribution of Club notifications.
2009 – John Kyan for encouraging junior play, helping coach the juniors, arranging for junior team managers as well as running the junior league and junior tournaments for the Halstead and District Tennis League.
2010 – Bob Deighton for undertaking ongoing maintenance tasks at the club on a daily basis and for organising the biannual Clean Up sessions to keep the site neat and tidy.
2011 – Kath Welsh for leading a team of volunteers in the running of Junior Sessions that promote, encourage and actively assist in the development of youngsters’ tennis in all aspects of the game regardless of their age and ability.
2012 – Bill Stephens for his dedicated commitment to the Club including conducting a members’ survey, organising and running the Summer Tournament as Tournament Referee, setting up and running the Suggestion Scheme as well as representing the Club on the BHSA and Halstead League Committees.
2013 – Jenny Cooper; Jan Rochester; Graham Lewis-Taylor for their work in securing funding, planning approval and overseeing the building of the brick-built pavilion, culminating in arranging a grand opening by Olympic sailor, Saskia Clark.
2014 – Mike Watson for his work with various junior teams over many years and his continued support of the Club in general.
2015 – Neil Salmon for being a team captain, supporting the Club’s activities such as maintenance mornings, the quiz or main events, running American Tournaments and being joint Tournament Referee.
2016 – Lisa De Rosa for her contribution to the social activities at the Club and for organising and running the clothing line and other merchandise.
2017 – Bryan Smith for his continued support in the Junior coaching sessions and encouraging the juniors with his enthusiasm for the game and commitment to the Club.
2018 – Jon Gustard for setting up and running the on-line winter singles ladder.
2019 – Paul Bluck for his hard work on the Committee and as Tournament Referee on the Tournament Sub-Committee, as well as captaining a men’s team.
2020 – John Chamberlain for setting up and running the Confidence Building mixed Club sessions on a Monday morning.
2021 – Neil Salmon for his hard work on the Committee and as the Summer Tournament Referee on the Tournament Sub-Committee.
2022 – Bernie Rochester for being the Club’s photographer for over 35 years, one of the Club's past representatives on the BHSA, a captain of a men’s team and for carrying out many day to day maintenance jobs behind the scenes.
2023 – Riana Welman; Hennie Welman for transforming Friday evening Club sessions into a social tennis evening which has proved popular.
2024 – Amanda Moss for her dedication to running a boys’ team over a number of years
2025 – Jo McCulloch for running the Club’s Facebook page, being actively involved with social functions over the years and running two ladies’ teams this year.