BAMBOO

As many of you know we have a very serious problem with the bamboo plants adjacent to the tennis pathway. During the recent dry summer, the bamboo roots spread in search of water towards the astro tennis courts and croquet lawns.

As soon as we identified the problem we tendered with contractors to resolve the issue, as if left unattended the root progression would cause further damage and greater expense to both the tennis and croquet playing surfaces as well as to the pathway. Having appointed a contractor for the project, they withdrew after undertaking much more work than anticipated, having seriously underestimated the difficulty of successful plant removal.

We have now looked again at other local experts and have completed a further tender process however the cost to complete the works will be at least an additional £30k. We are in the process of finalising details with the contractor and currently we believe work will commence in early March for up to three weeks. Although this is a very large cost, it is much less than leaving the issue to fester further and having to spend additional costs on the sporting surfaces.

In regard to this unanticipated cost, we are very fortunate that a club member has kindly come forward and generously offered to donate £5k towards the project. They wish to remain anonymous at this time but the board are very grateful for their contribution.

MEMBER SUBSCRIPTIONS

The membership subscription year starts again on 1 April.    The board are reviewing finances for the coming year and despite the unanticipated costs associated with the Bamboo and general cost inflation of over 10%, we recognise that many members are also feeling cost of living pressures and we are therefore trying our best to hold all subscriptions flat for the coming year. A final announcement will be made with the renewals email by the end of the month.

The potential introduction of Padel Tennis to the club will be a significant expense but the board believes this project (should it be approved and go ahead) will generate sufficient future income to be self-funding in the long run, and as such we would not feel it is necessary or appropriate to increase existing subs to fund this initiative.

The full adult subs will continue to include a £10 asphalt levy this year, and we hope to be able to complete the resurfacing of the driveway and car park as soon as the Padel courts are in place.

BARBARA KAYE

A former club member for over 40 years who only stopped playing in club matches when in her 80's, Barbara Kaye passed away on 20 January 2023. Details of her funeral arrangements are attached.

Barbara was a very active member of the club, appointed Chair of tennis in the early 1990s during which time the club installed the artificial grass tennis surface for the first time. Barbara was also known for her baking and cake making skills and would often provide her special millionaires shortbread for match teas, and was also very involved with gardening at the club. 

Outside of tennis, she was a keen squash player and at one time had a very bad accident breaking both of her wrists. She and her husband were also powerboat enthusiasts.

In her local neighbourhood of Broadstone, she helped with the maintenance of the local flower beds and on a Wednesday helped with lunches for the elderly (even though she was probably older than many of them!!). 

The Board