2020 VISION
Let me take you back to the end of last year. It is that somewhat anonymous time between Christmas and the New Year. The weather was quite good. You were well fed and watered. The school holidays had two weeks to run. Now was the time to think about the past year and to consider the next. 2020.
Perhaps a New Year resolution or two? A holiday to plan? Arrangements to be made for moving house? Nametapes to be sewn on. Ski equipment to be taken out of storage.
And, of course, the Roehampton Club subscription to be paid. ‘It does seem to come to a pretty penny. And that change of catering contract – let’s hope taking it back into Club control does work this time. Bit of a shambles, wasn’t it?’
Many might have enjoyed a play on the phrase 2020 VISION – of the past and the future.
But no one could envision what would unfold mid-March onwards.
Now we are moving into a new phase.
Let’s use the word VISION to raise our spirits concerning the future.
I played golf last week. It was wonderful. Golfers were carefully lining up to play at the well-ordered Sports Shop. The course is just pristine. My golf was not. You could hear tennis balls being struck. With very few aircraft, the bird song was spectacular.
Here was a Vision of the future. London, England, Roehampton Club at an astonishing moment in time. Being reborn.
The Crisis Management Team got it right. The Staff got it right. What they have achieved is brilliant. Just right.
And now it is our turn.
To misquote John Kennedy: do not ask of your Club what it can do for you, ask of yourself what you can do for your Club.
Let us take every chance to thank the staff for their superb, short-handed efforts to present us with a small slice of heaven on earth. Let us be mindful of each other and the myriad courtesies which improve all our lives. Let’s maintain and improve our mental, physical and social well-being.
Let us take a renewed pride in our Club which is being offered back to us in such wonderful condition.
Let us embrace a newly minted version of 2020 VISION with every indication of even better days to come.
Thank you Roehampton Club. We have met again and it is good. Very good.