When I first took over as your Chairman two
years ago, your Committee and I set out a plan of
action for the next couple of years.
You may remember that the areas mentioned
opportunities to revive and extend the appeal of
our club; these included attracting and recruiting
new members with the accent on youth; extending
the friendlies fixture list by reviving old
matches and setting up new ones; arranging
overseas tours; expanding the annual tournament
and promoting a national drive for the neglected
doubles game.
I am pleased to report that we have continued to
build on the progress I reported at last year’s
AGM.
We have been able to sustain the
increase in membership. Indeed, we have already
exceeded the total number of new members in 2015 in
the first three months of this year. Also, it is good
to report that the majority of new members are below
the age of 60.
I can also report that we have arranged five new
fixtures – Escorts, Petersfield, Hurlingham, Bishop’s
Stortford and Oxshott. I personally remain committed
to arrange friendlies with The Oxford and Cambridge
Club, Sandown and St. Georges Hill.
Our popular weekend trip to York will take place in
June this year, and will be run by Adrian Wright. The
November 2015 Festival of Squash was, courtesy of the
RAC Woodcote Park, a great success with lots of
enjoyable and competitive matches played. The Army
managed to retain the trophy but were closely pursued
by the GB Vets team. It is great that this has, by
popular demand, now become a regular feature of the
season.
I would have liked to report progress on our plan to
spread the doubles game, but this has proved to be a
challenge; we have now, however, been able to identify
sufficient interest in the South East Region and
Robert Smith will be driving an initiative on this
front over the next few months.
A Chairman can only be as good as his supporting
Committee. We are lucky that we have a strong and hard
working Committee who continue to dedicate their time
to our Club. I thank them on behalf of all our
members. However, our previous Hon. Match Secretary,
David Smith has resigned, and our Hon. Treasurer of
eight years, David Garrett, is also standing down. I
forget how many times over the last year I have urged
our younger members to come forward and serve our
club, but so far, this has been of no avail. We are
fortunate, however, that we have two willing
volunteers to take over key aspects of our club. Nick
Markham-David has joined the Committee to take over as
Match Secretary, whilst my wife Di Hendry (once a
professional book-keeper) has agreed to take over as
our Treasurer for a short time. Whilst thanking them
both enormously for their willingness to put some of
their energies into securing the future of our club, I
will observe (in the most respectful way!) that when
they join the Committee, our average age will
increase! I will continue to urge our younger members
to come forward to serve our club in the future.
Your Committee is always working hard to find new
blood and energy to run the GB Vets. So please
volunteer if you are able to help in any way, perhaps
by arranging matches, tours or, indeed, in any way you
are willing to contribute to the further development
of our Club.
I do believe that, despite the challenging times that
squash is going through, our Club is in good heart.
Thanks for all your continued support.
Tom Hendry
Chairman
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