Once again it has been a positive year for Ryde Mead Lawn Tennis Club.  The committee have been working hard to develop better links with other island tennis clubs and the island LTA.  Notable successes have been the reinstatement of the Jubilee Cup and our involvement with the selection process for the Youth Island Games.  We have recently extended an open invitation to other island clubs to attend our Sunday afternoon mix-in tournament.  We hope this work will in turn build opportunities for our club members, especially our juniors.

            We are very pleased to have been able to revamp our junior coaching for the summer season now we have such a strong coaching team in place.  I am sure this programme will develop and grow quickly over the summer months.

            Raising the club’s profile in our community is another of our aims, consequently you will have seen the banner we now have overlooking the town car park.  Advertising for our summer coaching programmes will go into schools soon.  We have more ideas in the pipeline……

            The committee has been really pleased this year at the development of social tennis at the club.  In order to support this we have just agreed to purchase a BBQ for the club, we hope to put it to regular use as the weather warms up.

            This year we have received the resignation of 3 long term committee members, Sue and Roger Cross and John Hall.  All have served on the club committee for many years and worked incredibly hard to keep things ticking over.  I would like to thank them all for everything they have done.  Colin and Anne Hoath also deserve a mention here.  Colin has run our junior tournament for a number of years as well as picking up numerous other little jobs no-one else realised needed to be done!  They have also decided to ease up this year and concentrate on their tennis.  Thanks go to them for their hard work.

            Finally I would like remind club members that the committee is always keen to hear new ideas.  If you would like to become more involved with the club, or simply have an idea that you think could be of benefit to us, please let someone know.  If you can’t speak to us personally  leave a note in our newly installed suggestion box in the clubhouse.