Last Friday 30 members of the club’s popular Friday Morning Ladies group held their Christmas lunch at the Empress Hotel. This is the one time when they don’t prepare, cook, serve or wash up. All year they combine their Friday play with various charitable events but this time all could relax except for Catherine Brinkler and Pauline Montague who organised the event and what a good job they did. The chatter never stopped whilst old friends caught up on news of families etc. An excellent meal was served by attentive hotel staff. Jan Gaskill, on behalf of everyone thanked Catherine and Pauline for arranging everything and amused everyone with a poem she wrote about a tennis ball. Whilst I don’t play tennis now I can recommend this group to any new residents, adults wanting to re-start playing or parents of our juniors. They play every Friday from 10am – 12noon and new players will receive a very warm welcome. For more details contact the membership secretary, Jan Gaskill on 862144 or just turn up at the Ballaughton Meadows club.

Well it’s nearly Christmas – are you still stuck for ideas? Why not an Albany shirt or vouchers for the indoor court ?10 per hour for club members only (contact 861497) tennis balls or a coaching voucher– contact Ian Watson 496293. Also we have used tennis balls for sale which are ideal for dogs – it’s only ?5 a bag of 20.

Juniors don’t forget that coaching finishes this weekend but there is the annual junior team Christmas tournament next Tuesday. Sign in by the weekend on the board in the indoor court.

Finally the Committee of Albany Lawn Tennis Club wish all it’s members and parents of juniors a Very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Successful 2016.