Tina Waldon, the much loved and respected lead coach at Hylands for the last 20 years retired last March. Below is an account of her experience.
In 1994 I took my daughter over to Hylands Tennis Club in Hornchurch to take part in a summer course run by Madeline Makarab.
Tennis was a sport I had always loved and played from an early age at The Atheneaum in Ilford, but that day I had no idea how involved I would become again.
Soon my husband Dave, my daughter Hannah and then eventually my son Jack were members of Hylands, all becoming regular players.
Now, if you know anything about Hylands, you would also know that Hylands is Giorgio Bugnatelli.
The most passionate, hard working, determined and sometimes annoying man you will ever find. But we have been privileged that all his efforts have been focused on developing and improving tennis at Hylands.
Within a few months Giorgio encouraged me to pick up my racket and start playing again and supported me in every way possible whilst taking my coaching qualifications.
Over the next couple of years I was fortunate enough to be able to deliver tennis in some really supportive local schools and eventually when Maddy stepped down as coach, Giorgio encouraged me to take over.
Throughout the next 15 years Hylands grew from strength to strength and our little club in the park with 6 courts and no other facilities provided tennis for thousands of local children.
In 2013 Giorgio’s long term plan, hard work and immense vision paid off and the club re-located to a purpose built floodlight site at The Albany School.
Here Hylands expanded further and I have been lucky enough to be a part of the journey that is continuing today.
Throughout the years we were very focused on not just young players but training them for the role of Tennis Leaders, an area that has been very satisfying as a coach.
I have always felt that Hylands is a unique club where children and young players have always come first and I have been honoured to be a part of this ethos.
1994 seems a lifetime ago and I have seen many changes but now it is time for me to step down from Hylands. I thank not only Giorgio for all his support and the many parents who have trusted me to share and teach our sport to their children, but most of all I thank the thousands of children who have made my unexpected career fun, inspiring and a sheer delight.
Club Administrator, Giorgio Bugnatelli, said:
“Coaching is a vocational role. In my long involvement in tennis, I have seen many candidates aspiring to become successful coaches and I have witnessed as many lose their enthusiasm when meeting with initial failure. The most important element we seek in coaches is desire. Those who succeed are those who persist even when meeting adversity. We want to work with high aspiring individuals who share the same vision of facilitating access to coaching and playing, increase participation and creating a sporting habit for life. Tina has been instrumental in Hylands’ success and we have been gifted to benefit not only from her hardworking ethos and high level of coaching skills but we have also learnt to appreciate her empathy and no nonsense approach. She has always looked a natural on the tennis court because she loved and believed in what she did. Tina has been awarded a life membership at Hylands and will retain her advisory role to the committee. While this feature begins with “Thank you Hylands”, we thought it would be appropriate to end it by adding “Thank you Tina.”