Author: Gillian Sanderson

An enjoyable coronation celebration was held at the club. A sunny evening for some social tennis followed by supper for over 30 people in the clubhouse. Coronation chicken and baked potatoes followed by fruity flag traybake desserts! Thanks to the chefs – Andrea, Andy, Gill, Linda and Sheila – for all their hard work before and during the evening. And thanks as well to Angela, with help from Karen, for looking after the bar and providing coronation cocktails which went down very well!

The choir had a fantastic last session before taking a summer break whilst midweek matches are played.  With twenty attendees in addition to Jane, the singing was at its best yet!  Choir leader Jane was thanked for all her hard work keeping the choir going all winter, along with Jackie Moore who has helped Jane every week with setting up and serving tea & coffee afterwards.  The choir will definitely be returning in the Autumn.

A grey, windy afternoon for our American Tournament but the rain held off. All the courts were full and after six rounds, our winners were Julie Rackham and Mark Taylor.  Julie received the Deb Saund Memorial trophy for the second consecutive time whilst Mark received the Beresford Marshall trophy for the first time.  Congratulations to both!  Many thanks to Steve for organising the tournament.

We topped £3000 at our auction night! Thanks to all those we came and bid on the lots on offer and to those who bid remotely. Fantastic job by auctioneer Steve, by Hazel keeping track of bids, Angela and Karen on the bar, and social committee members for all their hard work behind the scenes. And of course, thanks to all those members whose generosity provided all the auction lots, both items and pledges, which resulted in such a successful night for the club!

Congratulations to the winners of our Winter Handicap Tournament finals  The Ladies Doubles was won by Jaki Moffat & Julie Milner who beat Juliette Young & Laura Ravinet in a three set battle. The Mens Doubles title went to Darren Glover & Duncan Taylor who beat Paul Phillips & Tom Reader, whilst the Mixed Doubles was won by Paul Moffat & Sarah Jolley who beat Dibu Pratap & Lottie Mitchell. An excellent afternoon’s tennis for the spectators who braved the rain showers! And thanks to Steve for organising the tournaments so efficiently as usual.

Congratulations to our Mens Senior team who reached the final of the Essex Winter Ian Pitt Cup competition. On the finals day at Deanes Indoor Tennis Centre, they lost to a strong Connaught side, but fought hard, taking two of the three rubbers to a third set championship tiebreak, unfortunately losing both. Our players were Alan Kemp & Steve Wynn, Greg Huggett & Jon Oates and Dave Lambe & Tim Willcock.  The full Finals Day report can be viewed here.

Thank you to our chefs Jane and Linda for cooking delicious pasta for our first Friday night social of the year. Tennis for a few first despite the cold weather, then supper for 25 in the clubhouse. Thanks also to Angela for looking after the bar and all those who helped clear up afterwards. An excellent evening!

Many thanks to members of the social committee, Andrea, Gill, Jane, Linda, Sheila and Tash, for all their hard work hosting the various events throughout the month of December.  The events included craft workshops, festive choir nights, a junior fun & games morning, plus various social tennis sessions featuring festive refreshments, soup lunch, chilli supper and Christmas leftovers sharing lunch. Great to see so many different members entering into the Christmas spirit at one or more of the events.

A very good time was had by all at Bill’s gin tasting event held at the club. Tasting may not be quite the description as five different gins were on offer so rather more than a taste!! Many thanks to Bill for organising the event, sourcing all the gins, and providing detailed descriptions of their ingredients and origins. Thanks also to Marion for her delicious homemade patés, Linda and Jane for the rest of the food shopping and getting everything ready in the clubhouse, and Julian for helping serve all the gins.