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All Members - You will be aware that there is an open meeting on Saturday 20th March
to discuss the proposed club development. Please note that the start time for this
meeeting has changed from 6pm to 7pm.
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Junior Squash Members - The Saturday morning junior squash session has restarted for
the winter. For 7-12 year olds it runs from 10-11am. Speak to Phil Rushworth phillip@wimbledonclub.co.uk
for more details.
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All Members - Dance Express is now running junior dance courses here on Saturday
afternoons - for details contact Vicky Tivers on 07904 217877 or go to her website
www.dance-express@live.co.uk- on offer is Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Freestyle/Street & lots more.
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Squash Members - coming up in March, two events for your calender. On the weekend of
20th/21st March we have the Canary Wharf Qualifiers and from Thursday 25th - Sunday
28th March we have the Wimbledon Cup. Both will offer some great spectator squash so
why not come along and see great players in action. Tickets for the Canary Wharf
Qualifiers are now available from reception.
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Squash Members - Over the weekends of the above two tournaments there will be some
changes to the squash sessions. ON Sat 20/3 the junior session will run as normal
but the Club Night will have restricted courts until the end of tournament play.
On Sunday 21/3, The junior session and the adult beginners will run on courts 5 & 6
and the aldult improers will run on courts 4-6.
On Friday 26/3 the junior session will run on courts 5 & 6 but the adult Club Night
is cancelled. On Sat 27/3 the junior session will run as normal but the Club Night
will run on cts 5 & 6 until the end of tournament play. On Sunday 28/3 the junior
session and the adult beginners will run on courts 5 & 6 and the adult improvers
will run on courts 1-4 after the Wimbledon Cup final.
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All Members - some dates to keep free in your diary - this year's Club Championships
will commence on Tuesday 6th April with the finals all taking place on Saturday
17th April. Entry forms for both sports are now available from reception.
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UPDATE TO MEMBERS ON THE BOARD’S CONSIDERATION FOR GYM EXPANSION
1. As mentioned in the update of November 2009, the club needs some £350,000 over the next few years just to maintain the fabric. The list of expenditure is detailed here
http://www.wimbledonclub.co.uk/EventDetails.asp?EventTitle=Club Repairs and Capt. Exp
2. The club commissioned a quantity surveyor to review the new gym estimates for each of plans A (conversion of squash courts 5 and 6) and plan B (new build on front car park). The estimates he provided were higher than those of the original quotations from the specialist contractor at £542,000 for plan A and £855,000 for plan B (both including VAT). In addition to either of these sums, there would need to be an investment of £150,000 in gym equipment.
3. An application was made in December, to one of the Sport England funds that was available at the time, for funding towards plan B (circa £800,000). The announcement of applications that have been accepted for further consideration by Sport England is due in March.
4. If the funding application is not successful bank borrowing will be necessary, whichever alternative is pursued. During preliminary discussions with our bank in July last year, a possible loan of £500,000 was discussed which the bank indicated a willingness to provide, commenting that “our (the bank’s) main focus will be ensuring that serviceability of the new loan repayments can be easily achieved”. As, in the meantime, not only have the sums required substantially increased, but banking conditions have also deteriorated, so a fresh application for a loan will need to be made.
5. Before the Board can approach the bank, it will be necessary for the projections of income and expenditure for the next 10 years to be reviewed and, if necessary, amended. That work will take place shortly and it is entirely possible that the projections will not support borrowing at either of the levels anticipated.
6. The newly constituted squash committee has indicated its support for the gym expansion, but believes this should be achieved by extending in to the front car park. The Board and management welcome the new enhanced air of enthusiasm and activity from the committee and are in regular dialogue about how to increase the level of squash activity within the club.
7. Whilst comments from members have been received on these plans verbally and by e-mail, we believe it is now appropriate to hold an open meeting so that all members who wish to attend can come and give their input to the considerations. In view of the substantial amount of work required before the Board can make a recommendation to members (if at all), it seems appropriate to call that meeting in the near future.
8. Consequently, we would like to invite all members to an open meeting to discuss the gym expansion plans at 7pm on Saturday March 20th. As the club will aim to provide light refreshments, would members who plan to attend kindly e-mail the club manager [club.manager@wimbledonclub.co.uk] so that provision can be made for all those who attend.
Kenneth Cobley
Chairman (on behalf of the Board)
15 February 2010.
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Feedback on this page? send to lynne@wimbledonclub.co.uk
Last updated: 9th March 2010
