President's Note

Good Wishes for 2009

Dear Member

Now that we are eventually emerging from the winter it is that time of year when members of Falkirk Lawn Tennis Club (FLTC) look forward to those feel-good days when their tennis is ‘in the zone’ and the weather is kind.

The courts are being prepared in readiness for the activities ahead. I wish you all a very happy and healthy season.

Thanks to the efforts of Philip Crosson and Alan Dick a significant innovation in 2008 was the introduction of a consolidated FLTC Web Site http://falkirktennis.webeden.co.uk.

This provides an excellent window into the Club’s activities, forthcoming events, and topical interests. I would greatly encourage everyone to regularly visit the web-site; any suggestions to improve this facility will be most welcome.

Year 2008 was another good year for FLTC with our teams again performing well and doing us proud. The membership continues to be healthy although the member count was a little lower than the previous year.

My thanks go out to the officers of the Club and to all those members that provided valuable assistance to the Committee throughout 2008.

I would like to single out Alan Gibson for, once again, his efforts, as Honorary Secretary, ensuring that the Club ran smoothly throughout the year. Also Robbie Sinclair for his continued stewardship as Honorary Treasurer; and holding the Club’s financials in a safe pair of hands.

During 2008 the Club investigated re-surfacing the tennis courts which have served us very well over many years but progressively require more TLC and we suspect the underlying foundation will eventually need re-laying to prevent localised areas sinking across the courts.

Responses from potential suppliers would indicate that such fundamental restoration will take several weeks and needs to be accomplished during the late spring/summer/early autumn periods when frost-free conditions are more likely. Unfortunately, this coincides with the tennis season and, hence, some disruption will be inevitable and we would ask your understanding when remedial work commences in 2010.

We will attempt to choose a timeframe that will minimize any disruption but some contingency planning for play in other venues may be necessary.

Such an undertaking will also be expensive and although FLTC has a healthy bank balance it would not fully cover the costs involved and other means of addressing the shortfall are being pursued, a challenging task in today's financial climate.

However, temporary repairs were performed last year which should easily suffice through into 2010. A steering group has been setup to address the court restoration project.

The increasing workload involved in running his Total Tennis Company has meant that Gordon Watson will not be able to continue his previous duties as Club Officer. Our thanks go to Gordon for his excellent efforts on the Club’s behalf and wish him continued success with his business.

The good news, however, is that Gordon will continue as resident Coach which continues to provide the talent that contributes towards the Club’s ongoing success in the inter-club leagues and tournaments.

The Club is, however, primarily a sports and leisure facility and, with this in mind, the Committee plan to re-vitalize the member’s club evenings.

These nights are organised into junior and senior sessions and scheduled weekly events open to all members of varying experience to intermix in social match-play tennis.

An organiser will be around to ensure the session is run in a structured fashion. We truly hope all members will come along to create a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere.

Alan Gibson; Norrie Foster; and others once again organised a very successful Club Championship followed with a prize-giving dinner/dance evening.

Once again the Club are very grateful to the donors whose generous contributions in providing the excellent buffet during Finals Day. Well done to everyone who participated! It was a truly great event; lots of fun and I will be looking forward to this year’s Club Championships.

Finally, I believe FLTC provides an excellent recreational facility within the Falkirk district, and I continue to be surprised how few in the Community are aware that Tennis is so active in Falkirk.

If you have not been an active tennis player recently or know of any local individuals interested in taking up the sport and maybe wish to become members of FLTC, why not ask them along to see if it’s for them.

I personally didn’t take up tennis until being introduced to the Club at the tender young age of 56 years. Little could I have known the many hours of enjoyment it has since provided me over these last ten years. I don’t think Andy Murray need concern himself about being relegated from the top spot but, hey; you never know?

Please let us have any suggestions to enhance your enjoyment.

I truly hope you all have a great tennis year ahead!

John Bryant

President