Chairman’s Message
Dear fellow Members,
What a glorious period of fine weather we have been enjoying. The Club looks wonderful. Golfers have been able to play on a very dapper looking course; the croquet lawns look pristine and tennis players will be raring to go on the grass courts which open this Saturday 30th April. Thank you to all concerned!
Tennis and Backgammon excellence
We were very pleased to welcome back last weekend our new world number one, Joe Salisbury. Joe played singles and doubles for the Club in our National League match against Thorpe Bay, most successfully as we won 6-0. Thank you, Joe and your fellow team members as we currently top the national and regional leagues. Find some photos here.
It’s not just in sport that the Club’s talent flourishes as we have a second number one achievement announced this week – Chris Bray has gone back to the top of the UK rankings for backgammon. Congratulations Chris – the backgammon section is fortunate to have such a good mentor.
Art Exhibition for Juniors
The Art Group is launching a new initiative, a Junior Art Exhibition to take place in the Reading Room this summer. Please see the details here and encourage your Junior Members to submit their work for selection. I hope you also enjoy, as I do, looking at the periodical displays of art by adult Members in the reading room. I am always impressed by the quality and flair displayed.
Board Meeting Highlights
At this time of the month, I usually try to give you a brief account of important matters the Board has considered in its monthly meeting. We received reports on progress on various refurbishment or development projects about which I have written before, i.e., Airhall 2, safety works on golf holes 10 to 13, proposed Clubhouse changing room improvements, the airlock cubicle between the indoor and outdoor pools and business pods to be installed in the Reading Room.
All are proceeding with preparations to begin work either when written permission is received from the planners (holes 10 to 13) or when the contractors are ready to start at times scheduled to cause as little inconvenience and disruption to Members as possible. Airhall 2 on courts 7-10 is the obvious exception to this, as there will be considerable inconvenience as well as a reduction in available courts from July 4th to end of October. That, however, is a price well worth paying for the long-term benefits the tennis section will receive from having four more indoor courts in late autumn and winter each year.
Update on Rosslyn Park FC
I know many Members are concerned by the noise and disruption caused by the dark kitchens operating on Rosslyn Park’s land. That concern is shared by many of our neighbours. We have not given landlord’s permission for that operation, and we have confirmation from RPFC that they have withdrawn their planning application for a licence to run the kitchens. We have offered to work with them to bring a speedy end to this nuisance.
Some good news is that RPFC have successfully applied to take down one of the advertising hoardings on the Upper Richmond Road near to our Thatched Cottage. Just one hoarding will remain by their entrance gate. Lastly, we are showing our support for the Club by sponsoring their final home game vs Plymouth Albion at 3pm tomorrow.
Complimentary tickets are available for Roehampton Club Members by entering the Promotion Code ‘CLUB’ when booking tickets online here: https://tickets.rosslynpark.co.uk/events/363147/info?distributionId=179761
Club Rules and Values
One of the key values of the Club is respecting each other and our staff. Regrettably, it has recently been necessary to take disciplinary action against a few Members who have behaved inconsistently with that value either to other Members or to staff. The Board has made it clear that it will not tolerate behaviour by Members which is in breach of the rules or the code of conduct. It is not an excuse to argue that this is a members’ club, and that Members can therefore behave as they wish. We all joined on the basis of abiding by the rules of the Club. The rules are clear about the behaviour that is expected.
AGM
Finally, may I urge you please to attend the AGM on 23rd May at 7.30pm. If you cannot attend, please complete and return your proxy form, which you will receive this weekend along with Notice of the AGM, plus the Annual Report and accounts for 2021. There is also a form asking for your consent to receive these formal papers electronically in future. This will save considerable monies in terms of printing and postage as well as being more environmentally friendly, so we encourage you to consent to this request.
The AGM will cover the usual formal business. It will be followed by brief presentations on the recent Member Survey by GGA Partners and the financial health of the Club from the Chairman of Finance to which Members will be able to ask questions. Do please come along to this important event in the Club’s calendar. I look forward to seeing you there and enjoying with you a glass of wine afterwards.
Best wishes,
Alan