Sydenham Tennis Club

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all members and supporters.

Remember to book your place for the first social event of 2026…

Christmas & New Year Quiz Night – Saturday 3 January 2026
Join regular host Jeff Richards for an evening of fun with family and friends – the bar will be open from 6.00pm with the quiz starting at 7.00pm. 
Numbers are limited to 8 teams, so please book as soon as possible with Jeff on 07769565095 or at jeff.richards@rcn.org.uk with your name and, if you are entering a team (max 6). Don’t worry if you can’t make up a team or would like to come on your own – Jeff will allocate you a team on the night. Entry: Adults £3 – Children £2.

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows between Christmas and New Year: Saturday 27th from 0900-1200, Sunday 28th from 1030-1330, and Wednesday 31st from 0900-1200. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Christmas Period Club Play
Further to last week’s newsletter regarding the Christmas closure period. The following tennis club play sessions will still have courts reserved for anyone who wants to attend – check the booking system for court availability: Tuesday 23rd, Sunday 28th, and Tuesday 30th December. However, please note that club play balls will not be provided so you will need to make your own arrangements. 

Club Membership Fees
The new membership fees have been confirmed and will take effect from 1 January 2026. The majority of fees have modest increases in line with inflation – £10 on each full adult tennis and squash membership for the year. These will take effect at your next renewal. You will find the full details here from 31 December 2025. 

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
13 December: Men’s 3 v Hayes (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 6)
14 December: Men’s 1 v Sidcup Rec 1 (A) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 3)
The Squash team results from the last week:
16 December: A v Maidstone 1 – lost 7-14 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Friday from 1030-1630, Saturday 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, and Monday 0900-1500. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Christmas Period
There will be a short break in club and coaching activities for Christmas, as well as closure of some facilities – please see details below:
Bar will be open usual hours until Thursday 18 December, and then only be available when I’m on site until reopening from Monday 5 January;
Club play will end with the sessions on Sunday 21 December and recommence on Sunday 4 January;
All coaching groups and sessions for adults and juniors will stop on Saturday 20 December and restart on Monday 5 January.

Junior Squash Taster Coaching
We are launching a new junior coaching programme for 5-14 years in the new year. There will be a six week course to learn the basics of squash in a fun environment. Next courses starting on Friday 9 January 2026:
Junior Squash course for 5-8 years from 4.30-5.15pm – book here.
Junior Squash course for 9-14 years from 5.15-6.00pm – book here.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
6 December: Men’s 4 v Frindsbury 3 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 10)
6 December: Men’s Vets v Freedom Leisure (A) – lost 2-2 (Kent Div 5)
7 December: Mixed 2 v St John’s 2 (A) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 9)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1200, Sunday 0900-1200, Monday 0900-1330, Tuesday 1500-1930, and Friday 1330-1800. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Tennis Court 8 Update
I met with the contractors last week to confirm details regarding the new court. Currently, we are aiming for construction between March and May 2026. The start date will depend on prevailing weather at the time and will take approximately six weeks to complete.
The court construction will not require any removal of trees or planting, and the spoil from the lawn will be moved to the overgrown area in the North-west corner of the site to help with the landscaping of that area. 

Christmas & New Year Quiz Night – Saturday 3 January 2026
Join regular host Jeff Richards for an evening of fun with family and friends – the bar will be open from 6.00pm with the quiz starting at 7.00pm. 
Numbers are limited to 8 teams, so please book as soon as possible with Jeff on 07769565095 or at jeff.richards@rcn.org.uk with your name and, if you are entering a team (max 6). Don’t worry if you can’t make up a team or would like to come on your own – Jeff will allocate you a team on the night. Entry: Adults £3 – Children £2.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
28 November: Midweek Mixed Vets v Bexley – won 6-2 (NK Div 4)
30 November: Men’s Vets v Oakwood 3 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 5)
The Squash team results from the last week:
2 December: H v Parklangley 3 – lost 5-14 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, and Friday 1200-2100. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Club Members Christmas Party – Friday 5 December 2025
Join us in the clubhouse for mulled wine and mince pies. The bar open from 6.30-10.30pm. Games and table tennis available in the hall. All members and partners are welcome!

Club Annual General Meeting
There was a lot of information provided to members at the AGM earlier this month, together with interesting discussions on various topics. The Minutes are now available in the Members area of the Club website. 

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
23 November: Men’s 4 v Wye (H) – lost 0-4 (Kent Div 10)
The Squash team results from the last week:
25 November: A v Knole Park 1 – lost 5-15 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1500, and Friday 1200-2100. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Shelter
I’m taking part in the 10K Walk for Home on Tuesday 2 December to raise money for Shelter. There are a record 169,000 children in England who are homeless in temporary accommodation. Any donations to help me reach my target would be hugely appreciated. The money raised will help Shelter be there for more children and families facing homelessness this winter and beyond. You’ll find my fundraising page and more information here.

Young Person’s Welfare Ambassador
As part of the LTA’s commitment to safeguarding, they have created a new role for venues to support the Club Welfare Officer. The Club has decided to look for interest amongst its younger members to see if anyone would consider taking on this role.
The YPWA is aimed at young people aged 14-24 years old – you will find more information here. Please contact me for more details or to express interest.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
15 November: Mixed 2 v Herne Bay 3 (A) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 9)
15 November: Men’s 5 v United 2 (H) – won 2-2 (Kent Div 11)
16 November: Men’s 1 v Sevenoaks 2 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 3)
The Squash team results from the last week:
18 November: H v Tunbridge Wells SRC 4 – won 15-4 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1200, Sunday 0900-1500, and Friday 0900-1800. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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I’m sure that all members will be pleased to learn that our planning application to build a new court on the former croquet lawn has now been granted.

There are a couple of things to confirm with the contractors this week regarding access and drainage, and then I should be in a position to provide a timeline for construction. At present we are optimistic that it will be ready for Easter next year.

Just to confirm that the court surface will be artificial clay, the same as courts 3-7, and will be built by Trevor May contractors who were responsible for all the other courts. When they are on site, repairs will be undertaken to existing courts where there are a few issues.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries regarding the new court. I’ll keep you updated in the regular newsletters when I have further information.

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Club Annual General Meeting – Follow-up
Further to the AGM last week, two members were given awards for service to the Club in a voluntary capacity: Gillian Bartlett was given a Special Recognition Award for her 8 years as Club Chair, plus additional service to the Board of Directors and Tennis Committee; and Joe McTague was given a Volunteer Recognition Award for his work in the squash section over the last year – Joe was unable to attend the AGM, so his award will be presented at 7.15pm on Tuesday 18 November before the league match that night.
Volunteering on a committee or group is very rewarding and a great way to have an input on the direction of the Club. There was a request for volunteers at the AGM, in particular we are looking for members to join the Bar & Events Committee. Please contact me for more information if you are interested.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
8 November: Men’s Vets v Kemsing 2 (H) – lost 1-3 (Kent Div 5)
9 November: Mixed 1 v Canterbury 2 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 2)
9 November: Men’s 2 v DL Kingshill 3 (A) – lost 1-3 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1200, Tuesday 1330-1930, and Friday 1200-1930. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Club Members Christmas Party – Friday 5 December 2025
Join us in the clubhouse for mulled wine and mince pies. The bar open from 6.30-10.30pm. Games and table tennis available in the hall. All members and partners are welcome!

Club Annual General Meeting
Many thanks to all who attended the AGM last night. At the meeting the Board of Directors shared information regarding development plans for the squash court building – converting the current changing rooms into a new social area, and upgrading the changing facilities and toilets. You will find the design pack that has been produced for planning here.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
1 November: Women’s 1 v Canterbury 1 (H) – lost 2-2 (Kent Div 2)
1 November: Men’s 5 v Knoll 6 (A) – lost 2-2 (Kent Div 11)
1 November: Men’s Vets v TwistFizz (A) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 5)
2 November: Men’s 1 v Beckenham 1 (A) – lost 1-3 (Kent Div 3)
2 November: Women’s 2 v DL Beckenham 1 (A) – lost 0-8 (NK Div 3)
6 November: Midweek Mixed Vets v Oakwood (A) – won 6-2 (NK Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1330, and Friday 1200-1930. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Club Annual General Meeting

A reminder that the Club’s 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place on Thursday 6 November 2025 at 8.00pm, which will be held in the Clubhouse. 

You will find the Full Notice & Agenda, and all other relevant documents – Annual Accounts, Directors’ Report, Key Roles – in the Members area of the Club website.

We’ll be providing details at the meeting about progress with the new tennis court and developments regarding the new clubhouse project.

The bar will be open from 7.00pm and there will be a complimentary drink on arrival and a few nibbles available. 

If you would like to table a question at the meeting, please email beforehand to info@sltcc.co.uk.

Please remember that we MUST have a quorum of 17 members present for the meeting to take place, so please do come along.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
25 October: Men’s 3 v Meopham 1 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 6)
26 October: Men’s 1 v Canterbury 2 (H) – won 4-0 Kent Div 3)
29 October: Midweek Mixed Vets v DL Beckenham (H) – tied 4-4 (NK Div 4) 
The Squash team results from the last week:
28 October: A v Bromley Sports 2 – lost 5-14 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Thursday 1830-2130, and Friday 1200-2100. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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