This special celebration event showcased elements of Hampshire & IOW Tennis’ work and activities and also included our first general meeting as a charity. Volunteers, coaches, players, captains etc could attend all or part of the evening and a free buffet and drinks were provided throughout.
The event opened with on-court training demonstrations from our junior and senior county players and included 8U and 9U, Ladies / 18U Girls, 18U Boys and Men’s age groups. There was also an opportunity to try pickleball and to experience target bounds.
The first general meeting of Hampshire & IOW Tennis started at 7.15 pm and Richard Cutler, Charity Manager, talked through his presentation which included:-
- What does Hampshire & IOW Tennis do?
- 2024 – A Year in Review
- Strategy 2025 – 2027
- 2024 Metrics
- 2025 Deliverables
Richard confirmed the re-launch of the Grants and Loans scheme and highlighted that projects can either be capital (facilities) or revenue (delivery) with awards up to £5,000. Projects must offer a public benefit. Loans are 0% interest free and typically repayable over three years. The application process is open and available online, please see https://hampshireiow.tennis/play/venue-support/grants-loans/.
Richard talked through the 2024 Financial Summary and confirmed that the 2024 Accounts were on the HIOWT website, together with the Annual Review (with thanks to Sandra and all contributors for their efforts to maintain this historical record).
Trustee Nominations
Richard confirmed the existing nine Trustees were standing, together with one new nomination. All gave a 60-second summary of their experience in and outside of tennis and all ten were unanimously elected as Trustees:
Lois Nash – Chair
Jane Dow – Vice Chair
Roger Castle – Treasurer
David Fothergill
Michael Isaacs
Mat Johnstone
Stuart Lamb
Kam Mak
Richard Marston
Robin Thompson
Richard highlighted that there were two trustee vacancies and that HIOWT could co-opt during the year. HIOWT were particularly looking for volunteers with legal and marketing experience, and were keen to re-balance the male-female ratio.
The County LTA Awards presentations then followed:-
Cathie Sabin Volunteer of the Year: Michael Isaacs
Club of the Year: Newman Tennis Club
Lifetime Achievement: Richard Mole
Park of the Year: Havant Council / NTA
Tennis Opened Up: Portsmouth Tennis Centre
LTA Meritorious Service Award: Alan Keenan (collecting his Award at Queen’s Club)
Richard congratulated Portsmouth Tennis Centre for winning the National Tennis Opened Up Award, which had been presented on Thursday 24th April at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre.
The other presentations were:
Junior County Colours: The relevant players from the 12U, 14U and 18U County Cups collected their pin badges
Di Hill Cup: 2024 14U Boys’ County Cup team
McDiarmid Cup: 2024 Ladies’ 65s County Cup team
Summer Doubles & Senior
Doubles Leagues: 2024 winners of each division collected their trophies
LTA Youth & Nationals League: 2024 winners of each division collected their pennants
The volunteers nominated during the National Volunteers’ Week (3rd – 9th June 2024) were again thanked for their contribution to tennis.
We would like to say a big thank you to the following for making the first Showcase event a success:
Richard Cutler (Charity Manager)
Lois Nash (Chair) and all of the Trustees
Sandra Holmes
All Junior and Senior County Captains
Julian Godfrey and Debbie Hale (Men’s and Ladies’ Captains)
All area leads (Chris Wilkinson, Joe Revelle, Marc Codling, Jenny Sayer, Tim Farthing, Mark Jackson, Liz Lim, Jo Dallas, Paul Scullard)
HIOWT member organisations and venue volunteers
HIOW Coaches
Sharon, Zoe and the LTA team
Honorary Vice-Presidents (Marc Dryden and Alan Keenan)
District league secretaries and committee volunteers
David Lloyd Southampton (especially George, Careys and Stephanie)
