As I am sure you are aware this is necessary if we are to continue to improve our facilities.

OWA Bar Prices

Get together with friends and make up a table of 6 or 8.  Alternatively we will look after you if you come alone and join forces with others on the night.

Tickets available from John Drabwell by phone 01689 851313

or email Drabbers.snr@gmail.com

Book early to avoid disappointment as limited number of seats available

OLD WILSONIANS’ TENNIS COLTS

Becoming a Tennis Colt is a very enjoyable way to encourage your child to look after their health by developing a life-long habit of exercising whilst having fun and learning a skill that will add to their social life throughout their life.

At Old Wilsonians we have coaching sessions for youngsters aged 4 upwards.  These sessions take place after the end of the school day from around 3-45 pm and on Saturday mornings at present.  Our wet weather programme means these sessions take place whatever the weather.  And we also have all-day and morning camps for youngsters during the school holidays, where a range of sports and activities can be enjoyed.

We are currently offering a terrific deal to parents.  Our Colts membership costs a family only £25 for a full year.  This category of membership allows: 

(a)     ALL children in the family 11 and under to become Tennis Colts – this category of junior membership lasts until a child‘s 12th birthday

(b)      the parents (whether one or two) to become social members of the OWA, permitted to use the bar and clubhouse. We also encourage Colts parents to play tennis with their children as much as possible. 

As an incentive, this type of membership entitles the parents to a discount of £1 from each coaching session, and from the multi-sport and tennis holiday camps in half-term etc.  As a junior member of the tennis club, each Tennis Colt will enjoy priority use of the hard courts most of the time and will, in addition, be able to take part in any of the tournaments that the club organises which we open to juniors.  You can see, therefore, that this membership will more than pay for itself if your child has the weekly coaching sessions, and is even better value if they join in with things like the half-term camps that our Head Coach Jake puts on.

 The Colts membership form is attached together with a couple of documents that are mentioned on that form for you to see.  You can complete it electronically and return it to me, or can print it and hand it to Jake – our Head Coach – if you prefer.  Payment by cheque or online is possible

We have a new Junior Team Manager who has started a Junior Club session on Monday evenings and she is always keen to hear (and provide) what Colts and junior members want from her.

If adults wish to become full tennis-playing members of the club the options are all explained on our website http://tennis.oldwilsonians.com/membership/ . If you join part way through the year the annual membership fees are charged on a pro rata basis.

If you need further information please contact:

Regards

NIGEL JORDAN

CHAIRMAN

Clubforce 2012

Jobs completed

Volunteer Hours

PRIZE 2012 WINNERS

WINNERS LIST APRIL 2012

"It's time for an adventure, Princess Alegna decides. An adventure to relieve the boredom. An adventure to find the light! But there's trouble in the kingdom. The neighbouring Borungles want Fairydom as its port and their evil leader Baron Pompous will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. The king and queen will do all that they can to try and prevent it, but will it be enough? How long will it be before Alegna finds out what's going on? Will she continue on her search for the light? And what, if anything, will it mean for the future of Fairydom?"

To purchase a copy click on the link below

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Please access on facebook( facebook.com/WilsonsAlumni), twitter (@WilsonsAlumni) and LinkedIn by joining the Wilson’s Alumni Network group at linkd.in/IrXpJo.

Our first pair of Andy and Nigel made a great start winning a very close rubber by  7-5, 7-6.  Steve and Stuart won their first set 6-3, but fell apart in the 2nd, losing it 6-3.  However they came good in the 3rd, winning the Championship tie break 10-8!  So we were 2-0 up at the halfway stage and clear sailing?

Oh no!  Both pairs won the first set of the 2nd round rubbers, but with the matches really tight and still fighting hard for every point both pairs lost the second sets and both Championship tie breaks!  A good fight back from Bexley.  However, we had done enough in the first round and so proved to be winners of the cup with a score of 2-2 in rubbers, but  6-5 in sets.  Close, very close indeed, but a satisfactory victory!

Steve Drew

Now that the weather is warming up I hope our thoughts can turn to sunshine and tennis.  However, as you might expect, the main purpose of this note is to ask you to renew your membership of the club.  But there are several other things happening that I’d like to tell you about too.

Membership Renewal

It’s that time of year folks!  Your membership is due for renewal on or before 31 March 2012.  If payment is received before that date you may apply the early payment discount.  All the membership renewal documentation will be issued by Judith in the next few days.  Please complete the form and return it to us – the various payment options are on the first page.  We’re not fussy just as long as you renew!

Court Priorities

When you get the membership renewal paperwork you will receive the 2012 Members’ Handbook. You will see that it has an updated table detailing the court usage priorities.  I know most members welcome the expansion of our junior membership and the growth in our coaching programme.  Of course, as the number of sessions increase, there is the potential for tensions to arise over the availability of courts.  Your Committee has listened to all the arguments and tried to steer the most sensible path that provides maximum benefit to all members, rather than to any one group. Please take time to look at the table since there are quite a few changes.

Adult Coaching

Jake Johnson wishes to offer coaching to adults, starting in March 2012, probably on Thursday evenings at 7.00pm initially.  This is a great opportunity to improve both your technique as well as your tactical awareness.  I hope we can create groups of players of similar standards –  from league match players to novices.  If you are interested – or have any comments – please let me know.  I’ll try to get this up and running as soon as possible.

Some members also expressed an interest in a coaching session on Thursday or Friday mornings.  Now is the time to let me know if you’re interested so we can organise this for you.

Open Days

We plan to have an Open Day –  for youngsters – on Wednesday 25 April, starting at around 3.30pm.  And another event for adults, provisionally arranged for the evening of Thursday 17 May.  We will provide further information as these events get firmed up.  You can help by encouraging friends and acquaintances to come along; experience has shown this is by far the best method of recruiting new members.

NatWest ClubForce Weekend

Our annual work weekend is scheduled for Friday 20 April to Sunday 22 April.  We are looking for volunteers to offer some of their time – even a few hours is valuable – to give something back to the club.  Sheets will be on the notice board shortly.

We have proposed a number of jobs around the tennis courts and the clubhouse too. For example, we need additional storage now we have quite a lot of equipment for the juniors.  That either means installing more cupboards or possibly opening up the roof space within the hut (if it is dry).  As usual, skills will be deployed where they are most needed.  That means we will get specialist help from other sports sections where we need it and may be asked to work on their jobs in return too.  This is a great opportunity to meet people from some of the other sports clubs, and is usually thoroughly enjoyable even though lots of great work is done.  Bacon sandwiches and liberal amounts of tea are usually on offer.

Long-term Investment in the Club

Both in the responses to the members’ survey and at the AGM, members expressed strong views about the need to improve our facilities close to the tennis courts.  Our existing hut is older than anyone can remember.  It seems to have been installed in the 1960’s and is now coming to the end of its natural life.  Having running water, toilet facilities and better viewing arrangements were all things that mattered to many members.   It is early days but I do just want to tell you that your Committee is looking into options for a new courtside facility – and we are discussing this issue with the Old Wilsonians’ Association at present – since such a development will only be possible with a significant financial investment from them.  I will let you know more when there is news to report.

We are also talking to the OWA about developing the former netball court into a multi-games area.  We would like to get this done during 2012 and are seeking some grant funding to assist with this project.   We have made it through to the next stage of the grant process and again I’ll keep you posted as and when there is news to report.

Volunteers

I’m sorry to report that my request for volunteers gathered few positive responses – and I am very grateful to those who did offer their help.  Three Committee members are opening the clubhouse on Fridays from 4pm till 6pm for the parents of the youngsters taking part in the coaching.  I hope we can continue that through to Easter.   And we have some offers of assistance with the American tournaments too.

We are still seeking volunteers to organise the American Tournament and BBQ on 4 August.  If you can help, please let either me or Judith know.

At the moment, with only one generous offer to help, I cannot create a rota for tidying up and cleaning the hut, nor alter the current arrangements to get the tennis balls for club play changed on days other than Mondays. For now the status quo will have to continue.

There are two other vitally important areas where we need willing volunteers.  Firstly, Judith Heayberd has indicated that this will be her last year as Club Secretary.  Judith has performed this task impeccably for more than six years and whilst she is happy to continue as a Committee member she wants, and deserves, a break from this role.  It has significantly changed over the years, especially as communication is now largely done via email.  Hopefully that will make it possible for others to step forward now.  Men can fill this role too!  Judith and I will happily make this work for anyone who is willing to give it a go for the wider benefit of the club.

Secondly, Katie Gilbert will be off to University later this year so we need a Junior Team Co‑ordinator.  This is quite a new role and is still evolving so there is plenty of scope to shape this in your own image.

Please do consider these roles as we will not be able to function if either is left vacant.

BRITISH TENNIS MEMBERSHIP

As explained in the previous Newsletter, I did sign up all of those for whom I hold a date of birth.  That has significantly increased the number of members who are also British Tennis Members.  Norman Holmes recently contacted those who are yet to be signed up.  For those of you who received that email, I can complete the entire process for you if you feel able to let me know your date of birth.

We will shortly find out how many Wimbledon tickets the club has been allocated on the basis of its higher number of British Tennis members.

Finally here is the usual round-up of forthcoming social events.

American Tournaments – the next club session American tournament will take place on Saturday 25 February at 2.00pm.  After that the next one is scheduled for Wednesday 7 March and of course there will be the Brian Morley Trophy on Saturday 17 March (see below).  In April we propose to trial a later start to the American tournament on Wednesday 18 April, starting at 7.00pm, and there will be a further event on Saturday 28 April at 2.00pm.  Please add your names to the sign up sheets when they appear in the Hut.

Saturday 25 February – the Annual Dinner at Bromley Court Hotel. This is open to all members of the OWA and their guests (men only).  Hopefully we can get a Tennis Club table if sufficient people are interested.  Tickets cost £40 but only £35 if payment is made before 20 February.  Tickets available from Bryan Watts – email grawat@ntlworld.com.

16 March – The OWA is putting on a Cockney “Ding Dong”, with authentic pie & mash plus jellied eels.  There will be some cabaret and a good ol’ Cockney sing-song.  Dress is smart casual or flat cap, belt & braces!  Tickets available from Bryan Watts – email grawat@ntlworld.com.

17 March – The Brian Morley Trophy and Tea, our opening of season tournament.   Sign up sheets will be up in the Bar and Hut soon.

NB DATE CHANGE:  The ever-popular Quiz Night will take place on Friday 13 April.  This is always a fun evening with a fish & chips supper included. Book early as there is always pressure for places at this event.   Watch out for the booking sheets in the hut and clubhouse.

Friday 18 May – Wine Tasting Quiz – following the success of the previous wine tasting event, everyone will get another opportunity to pit their knowledge against the experts – and enjoy a few glasses together with some cheese and biscuits etc.  Tickets are £14 each from John Drabwell – Drabbers.snr@hotmail.com.

Sunday 27 May – The George Rice Trophy is a friendly tournament completed on the single afternoon.  It is for mixed pairs where the combined age is at least 100.  Anyone over 47 looking for a partner????

Keep an eye on the website and look for posters in the clubhouse for further updates on these and other events.

NIGEL JORDAN

CHAIRMAN

OWLTC