LTA President, Peter Bretherton, visited Gloucestershire on 4th December. Starting off the day with Ioan Evans and Philip Taylor at St Michael’s Park in Cirencester, this is a 4 court park site where Ioan runs a comprehensive programme working with Tennis for Free. Further work will be done with Ioan and St Michaels Park over the coming months to supporting participation at the park venue.
Peter then was taken to Oxstalls Sport Park, a Community Indoor Tennis Centre in Gloucester. Oxstalls Sports Park is an LTA Performance Centre and LTA Disability Network Hub who deliver everything from grass roots to performance tennis. Peter sat in on a meeting between Julie and two members of the staff, Darren (Tennis Performance Officer) and Helen (Tennis Development Officer) who discussed the Apprenticeship Scheme, School Games, Satellite Clubs and the Great British Tennis Weekend.
After a quick lunch break with Gloucestershire LTA Chairman, Michael Angell and President, Adrian Montague-Smith, Julie and Peter went over to Gloucestershire’s largest traditional club, East Gloucestershire Club which boasts 27 courts in total. After a tour of the Club Peter presented the club volunteers with their Clubmark award which they have recently renewed.