Beechwood has been awarded ‘Warwickshire Club of the Year 2004’. The club has been given a prize of £500 for this. Beechwood ladies team have also won the Bank of Ireland National Club League for Warwickshire with a prize of £100. Congratulations to all members involved in making this happen. The club of the year award is judged on both play at all levels, and non-playing aspects of the club. We hope to have an article in the Coventry Evening Telegraph in early March to publicise our success.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and if it’s not too late, I wish you all a Happy New Year.

I find myself in the honourable(?) position of President or our club and together with a great committee, hope we can continue our last President Mike Traherne’s good work in steering the ship on a steady course. As you can see from the aforementioned ‘big news’, we must be doing something right.

We do have a superb facility here but it continues to be so, mainly due to our ‘hard core’ of volunteer helpers. We have no paid staff – no full-time bar steward – no gardener. Just volunteers (with occasional professional help for those jobs we can’t handle ourselves) and with that in mind, I’d like to thank one or two of our helpers:-

Bruce Oliver (Vice President)
Bill Howie ( Treasurer – looks after the club’s finances)
Mike Traherne ( House and Grounds, maintenance, weed killing, bulb planting and exterminator of nasty things)
Dave Goodall (Bar Secretary who, on rare occasions can be spotted behind the bar)
Barbara Burton ( In charge of lettings – function room / courts which provide valuable income)
Carol Goodall (Social Secretary and compiler of the dreaded Bar Rota)
Carol Stamper (Membership Secretary)
Jason Meek (Tennis sub-committee Chairman)
Sandra Jepson (Creator of the Newsletter and general club PR)
Richard Simmons
Chris Scott
Jean Norman (Secretary and to whom I would like to give a very big thankyou. Jean keeps us in order at Committee Meetings)

We have a tennis sub – committee that meets regularly and sorts out court time, tournaments etc.

We also have those who unlock the main entrance gates and clubhouse every morning and lock up at weekends.

David Robinson, Ken Brown, Roy Walker, Adrian Dyke, Ali Scott, Andy Jepson, Bruce Oliver, Mark Owen, Roger Burton, Pete Davies, John Gilbert, Pete Webb, Roy Cann, and Bill Howie. Thankyou

Another unsung hero is John Gilbert who can regularly be seen rummaging around in the rubbish bins. We used to think he was looking for food, but in reality, John takes away rubbish, empty bottles etc. Thankyou John.

Adrian Dyke removes all the empty cans, mows the lawn etc. – Thankyou
Roy Cann and Bill Howie clean the beer pipes, cellar and bar every week – Thankyou

Thankyou bar staff for manning the bar every night.

Thankyou Bruce, Dave G., Mike T., Carol S. for clearing the drive of leaves

Thankyou bar staff for manning the bar for 5 or 6 hours on a Saturday evening whenever we have a function.

Thankyou to all those who have done their bit in the past – we should be grateful to them for helping get the club where it is today.

The list of jobs is endless, but you will see the same names crop up time and again. No we don’t have any fairies; we have to do it all ourselves. If anyone out there would like to help in any way at all, it would be greatly appreciated. Please speak to any of our committee members. Without out volunteers our subs would rise considerably – we just need more of them.

One area in which we are getting some help this year is the social scene with quite a few events lined up. Keep your eye on the noticeboards, get a few friends together and join in the fun. We’d love to see some different faces in the clubhouse. Same with the social nights during the summer, pop into the bar afterwards, even if it’s just for a quickie – don’t race off home – be sociable – we’re a friendly lot you know.

Also look out for the various tournaments we will be holding – they can be good competitive fun and give you a chance to meet other club members.

So, we are now well into 2005;let’s look forwards to the spring and the warmer weather so we can all start taking some clothes off and having fun!

Geoff Stamper

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 2005

A full programme of events is planned for the coming year. Please give the organisers as much support as you can, as much hard work goes on behind the scenes to get these events up and running. If you would like to run an event, then talk to Carol Goodall or Carol Stamper, who will be only too pleased to sort out dates and times with you.

19 TH FEBRUARY – BARN DANCE 7.30PM
HUGH RIPPON CALLING
£6 PLOUGHMANS INC.
TICKETS FROM CAROL AND CAROL

5 TH MARCH – CURRY EVENING
VI STEWART
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

15 TH APRIL – SUBS AND SNACKS

MAY – JAZZ EVENING

JUNE – BBQ/ COMBINED WITH PRESIDENT’S TOURNAMENT

DEC – CHRISTMAS DRINKS MORNING

A PROVISIONAL BOOKING HAS BEEN MADE TO HOLD THE ANNUAL DINNER DANCE ON 4 TH NOV AT THE VILLAGE. THIS WAS A VERY GOOD SOCIAL FUNCTION IN YEARS GONE BY, AND SEVERAL MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN HOLDING ONE AGAIN. IF ANYONE HAS ANY COMMENTS OR SUGESTIONS TO MAKE ABOUT THIS, THEN PLEASE MAKE THEM KNOWN TO A MEMBER OF THE MAIN COMMITTEE.

 
TIDYNESS

If you use the table tennis table please can you put it away in the cupboard in the function room.

FLOODLIGHTS/ GUESTS

The situation regarding floodlight income is being monitored. As things stand at present our income from the lights is down, despite more courts actually being used. We can only assume that some members aren’t paying. If things continue in this way then we will be forced to install coin operated meters. Can members also try to be as economical as possible when using the lights, eg. if there are only two groups playing then it will save electricity if courts one and two only are used rather than putting on several sets of lights. Whilst on the subject of moans, can members please ensure that they pay a visitor fee if they bring guests to play.

TENNIS

We are now well through the winter floodlit season, and plenty of memorable tennis has been played.

Can players involved in the winter mixed league please try to get you matches played by 20/03/05.All matches were played last year and it would be disappointing if this didn’t happen this year.

The summer season will begin on the week beginning Mon. 28 th March. Match practices also start this week, watch the noticeboard for details of days and times and for any changes to the printed order of play.

There will be tournaments running throughout the summer, again please watch the noticeboard for details.

MIKE WHITLOCK

Longstanding members will have been saddened to hear of the death of Mike. He is a past president and will be remembered as a key figure in bringing Earlsdon and Hearsall clubs together.

 CAR PARKING

No real news on additional parking at Hearsall Golf Club, negotiations are still underway.

You may have noticed that two spaces have been reserved for the bar stewards. This is to ensure that our volunteers on the bar do not have to walk down the drive at the end of the evening after they have locked up, to pick up their car parked on Beechwood Avenue somewhere. This has been done to ensure their safety, please respect the notices.

JUNIOR TENNIS

Well done to Max and Sarah Phipps, who were worthy winners of this event beating Kristen Soonius and Kieran in the final. Thanks to all who took part in this event and to Jon Baber for organising it.

As summer season is approaching, please remember to keep checking the Junior notice board for forthcoming events and tournaments.

Half term holiday courses are to be held on Tues Feb 15 th and Wed Feb 16 th 9.30-11.30. To reserve a place please see Lynda for a form. Places are limited.

SUPER MODEL SUE!

O ne of our members, Sue Walker, will be taking part in a fashion show, the proceeds of which will go to a breast cancer charity. The show takes place on 20 th March at The Hilton Hotel, and will show fashion for all ages. Why not get together with a group of friends and go and support Sue in this worthwhile cause?

Please contact Sue on 76672829 for details and tickets.

SWEATSHIRTS

We are looking to order some sweatshirts/hoodies with the club logo on. Watch the noticeboard for details.

The next newsletter will be sent out in May/June 2005, please let me have any articles by the end of April. If you are still receiving your newsletter via the post and would prefer to receive it via e-mail, please could you let me have your address. My address is andy@ajepson.freeserve.co.uk. It does save me a lot of time and also costs the club less money. Thankyou.

Thanks Matey, it's been fun, says Lynda.

Thankyou.

Sandra Jepson

Club and PR Officer