RADYR LAWN TENNIS CLUB
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2014
Our Centenary Year has come to an end!
Before I recollect on what a wonderful year 2014 was for Radyr LTC, I must first of all express great
sadness at the loss of two of our past Chairmen, Bill Asscher and Philip Lee, during the summer.
Bill was Chair from 1975-78 followed by Philip 1979-82 during which time the top double courts
were constructed, floodlights introduced and plans made for the Clubhouse to be rebuilt. We all owe
them a huge debt of gratitude, in difficult financial times, for their vision to seal the future of the
Club. It was with enormous pleasure that Bill was able to join our Centenary celebrations, at the Ball,
just shortly before he died.
Being our Centenary Year, 2014 was always going to have a buzz and fortunately we were blessed
with fantastic weather for all our events. It was wonderful to welcome so many past members &
friends back to the Club to help us celebrate.
None of the occasions we enjoyed could have gone ahead without an army of willing volunteers
making it happen. I think you will agree with me that all sections of the Club, from the youngest
juniors at their tea party to the oldest members, had something to enjoy.
It is always difficult to mention people individually in these situations, but I would like to thank Sarah
Smith and her social committee members for their tremendous hard work organising and selling so
many different social events.
Sarah also has to be thanked for kitting us out in the fabulous ‘sapphire blue’ Centenary clothing
which was much admired by all visiting teams.
Another aspect that was greatly admired by all visitors to the club was our beautiful floral display. I
would like to thank Caroline Roll and Jane Winstanley for getting up at the crack of dawn to attend
the market to purchase plants and then spending hours filling and tending the pots and beds. The
grounds looked fantastic all summer and we must thank Jim Goodwin and Graham Juniper for
keeping everything in shape and in good working order.
All clubs are only as good as their membership, and it is here that I would like to pay tribute to
Margaret Turnbull and her weekly bar officers. Margaret has given unstinting dedication to the bar
and her customers for so many years. As the Club continues to grow, it is no mean task to stock the
bar, clean it and the pipes and then stand behind the counter for hours on end to ensure we all have
a great facility to enjoy. I would like to thank her on behalf of us all for everything she does and ask
you to respect her selflessness as a volunteer. I am sure she would like me to take this opportunity
to ask for offers of help in this mammoth task.
Saturday teas has been a great tradition since the founding of the Club in 1914, raising hundreds of
pounds each year to reinvest in the club facilities. Thanks go to Jane Winstanley, Lucy Hutton & Ruth
Hurley for ensuring that tea was on the table at 4.30 every Saturday throughout the season. I know
some ladies had to provide tea on more than one occasion and I ask, even if you don’t always come
for tea, that every senior lady takes her turn in the forthcoming season to provide this much loved
sumptuous repast! Remember, you always get more out of anything by giving something back.
As I said, our membership continues to grow steadily and this year we achieved that landmark
number of 500 members making us the second largest club in Wales after Cardiff Castle. It is here
that I thank Lynda Goodwin for being such a tireless membership secretary.
The Club’s growth adds extra burdens on all its volunteers including our Treasurer Rosemary
Bernard. Rosemary does an expert job keeping our accounts and spending under control. Thanks
also go to our Honorary Auditor, Dave Cargill.
NOW TENNIS!
Megan Smith and Simon Bernard are our excellent junior captains and, with support from Drew,
organised a marvellous junior week.
Juniors are the future of our club and it is fantastic to see so many enjoying their coaching sessions
with Drew. However coaching is only the start. It would be nice to see the juniors actually playing on
court at times other than during their lessons. We have changed junior night to a Friday in the hope
that more children can come down at the end of their week for some fun and relaxation. Ruth
Hurley is trying to get all the juniors involved in little fun competitions so come on juniors, come
along, enjoy your tennis and bring mum and dad too for some refreshment at the end of their hard
week!
Drew and his team have developed a comprehensive and varied coaching programme for all ages.
The number of children, and adults, enjoying their coaching and improving the standard of tennis
within the club, is testament to his endeavour. Please continue to support him in the new season.
Our Captains Rachel and Andy, alongside their team captains, have led the teams to some success in
the summer and winter leagues. I know they will tell you all in their reports. However, I would like to
say how marvellous it was to see so many juniors representing the club at senior level and holding
their own in that environment. Well done to them all. Special mention has to be made to the Mens’
2nd team who gained promotion for the second year in succession with a 100% winning record.
As ever, the open and handicap tournaments had a massive entry and were enjoyed by all who took
part.
A new initiative, started this year, is allowing the students from the University of South Wales,
Treforest Campus, free use of our facilities on a Wednesday afternoon. Rachel Watson and Drew
attended the Freshers’ Fayre where 87 students signed up to the USW Tennis Club. I hope they are
enjoying their association with Radyr LTC.
FACILITIES
The last 3 years has seen a huge amount of capital expenditure both on the playing surfaces and the
Clubhouse. The Management Committee now want to consolidate and show some financial
restraint. It is our intention to clean and repaint the top single court as well as the bottom court
nearest the clubhouse and to have some rejuvenation works done to the first three tiger turf courts
before the start of the new season. Routine maintenance and repairs of the grounds, clubhouse,
fencing etc will be carried out as required.
Clubmark has now been renamed ‘Tennismark’. Graham Williams continues his important work
gathering and compiling the necessary information, required policies and procedures to
demonstrate we comply with everything necessary to ensure the club is well managed and a safe
environment for all users.
By the time we meet for our AGM on Monday 26th January 2015, the Club will know if it has been
successful in becoming ‘Tennis Wales Club of the Year’. Thanks to all who helped with the
application. The awards ceremony will take place in North Wales on Saturday 24th January. It is
testament to the hard work of all the Committee and you as members that we have been shortlisted
for this prestigious award. I would like to thank my predecessors, Rhodri Kendall and Ian Smith for
their success in building the Club to the fantastic facility we now enjoy and sowing the seeds for us
to achieve this recognition. I hope I shall be bringing you good news, but, whatever the outcome, we
know we have the best club in Wales!
It only leaves me to now thank Pam Williams as Secretary, all my officers and committee members
for their work and support helping me through this first year as your Chair. Peter Jones is stepping
down from the Committee after many years and I thank him for all he has done. If you feel you
would like to do more for the Club, please consider standing for the Committee or just helping out
where you feel you can contribute. The Club is run solely by members volunteering their time and
expertise. Any contribution could make a big difference.
Katrina