I know the weather hasn’t been on our side of late, but just a reminder that the deadline for Box League matches to be played is Sunday 29th December. Should the bad weather continue and matches don’t get played, Matt may be kind enough to grant us an extension….well, it is nearly Christmas!!!

Best wishes

Andrew King

A big thank you to those members who attended our Christmas party at the Ocean View Hotel on Saturday and helped to make it such a big success! It was great to see everyone with smiles on their faces, enjoying a fun evening, not to mention some pretty impressive dance moves!!!

We regret to inform members that due to the high winds and heavy rain forecast for this Thursday, the work to replace the floodlight bulbs has now been postponed until Friday 20th December, starting at 8am. Our contractor has deemed it unsafe to use the raising platform, to gain access to the lights, with conditions currently being as they are.

Unfortunately, this will mean that at least one court will be out of action during the Friday morning club play session, on the 20th, whilst the repairs are taking place. In addition, some further disruption is likely on other courts, as the remainder of the lights get fixed.

We would like to thank you all for your patience whilst this matter is being dealt with.

1.Clubhouse and Grounds Team Leader

At the last Committee meeting we were still waiting, and hoping, that some one would volunteer to take over one of the roles that Peter Richardson had undertaken, that of Maintenance Co-ordinator. He was well supported by a small team of members who were able to take part in a few Sunday morning maintenance mornings, often offset by Sarah providing bacon sandwiches at the end !

Paul Woods has kindly agreed to take over the regular health and safety checks and to see what if any actions need to be taken as a result of this. The list which he compiled includes over 25 different actions. At the moment there is no one who has agreed to undertake any of the work in the absence of a leader.

This situation clearly cannot continue so we would be extremely grateful if all members would seriously consider two things:

Could I offer to take on the role of co-ordinating the small team of existing volunteers to ensure that the club is maintained safely and remains fit for purpose?

Could I offer to turn up on a few Sunday mornings(or other time to suit) to help in completing the necessary work?

Please take a moment to think about how much you value the club and what you get from it and see if YOU are able to help in any way. We will be extremely grateful. THANK YOU

2.Sponsorship

One of the key things that our club, along with many other tennis clubs is having to deal with, is a national decline in people playing tennis, especially in local community settings. This has a significant impact on our finances . To counter this we have agreed to explore other options for raising revenue through sponsorship deals. So if you have your own business or know someone who does we would like to offer you the opportunity to sponsor some elements of the club programme . Clearly this will provide you with an opportunity to publicise your business too!

If you are interested in this please email us and we will provide you with an outline document explaining what is available.

3.Giving

Yes , its that time of year again when we all rack our brains about what to buy, how much to spend, which charitable causes to support. Stop here!

Now that we have achieved charitable status we are able to claim gift aid against all donations. So if Southbourne Tennis Club is one of our favourite charities you know what to do. You might also consider regular giving on a monthly basis and or leaving a legacy in your will.

Our club works as well as it does through the ongoing commitment of you our members. Thank you for your part in it. We look forward to hearing from you.

With our adult members Christmas party now fast approaching….or to be more specific, with just over two weeks to go! I wanted to inform those, who will be attending, of a couple of last minute details ahead of showtime on Saturday December 7th.

Dress Code

I have been asked by one or two members if there will be a dress code for the evening. We have decided to keep it to smart/casual. However, should anyone feel that they would like to dress up a bit more formally, then of course that is absolutely fine. Whatever people feel most comfortable wearing really….within reason!!!!

Members are asked to arrive at the hotel as close to 7pm as possible, with the meal being served around 7.30pm. This will then be followed by the disco starting from 9pm and going through until midnight.

Parking

For those members driving to the event, parking is available at both the Cottonwood Hotel and the Ocean View Hotel, where the party is being held. PLEASE NOTE: Members are asked to register their car registration details at reception, when parking at either hotel, to avoid getting a parking ticket!

I have also been made aware that free parking is available after 5pm, along both Manor Road, which runs alongside the hotel, as well as on East Overcliff Drive, towards the front of the hotel.

If needed, full contact details for the Ocean View Hotel are as follows: East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 3AR, Tel No. 01202 558057

We look forward to a great evening!