(Members with Martin Jackson; front in white t-shirt)
Stocksbridge Tennis Club said farewell to its Chair Martin Jackson recently at a tennis themed leaving event at the club. Martin is moving to Australia for a few years with his wife Marilyn who is starting a new job at the University in Darwin. The event was a chance for members to say farewell to Martin and enjoy some fun games of tennis on the courts.
Martin has been Chair of the tennis club for a number of years and has overseen the court improvements that have seen the club raise over £50,000 through sponsorship, fundraising events and donations to resize, resurface and paint the courts. The club is still working to fundraise to be able to floodlight the courts which will enable play to continue in the evenings and throughout the winter.
Anne Postlethwaite, Membership Officer, says “Although many members of the club have worked hard on the court improvements and fundraising, it has been Martin who has been the driving force behind this over the last year or so. He leaves the club in a greatly improved position and we will keep the momentum going to raise the money needed for floodlights. Martin’s philosophy has always to be open and encourage all to come and enjoy playing tennis and this has seen the club grow from strength to strength. Hopefully by the time Martin returns from Australia he will see the floodlights in place and a club that continues to grow.”
Martin says “I’d like to thank all who have helped build the club from 1999 and hope the club continues to encourage all ages, all abilities to have fun playing tennis. I wish the club good luck on raising the money needed for floodlighting”
The club will be appointing a new Chair at its AGM in October. If anyone wants to come down and try out the new courts there are coach-led sessions that non-members can take part in. Details of all session are on the club’s website www.stocksbridgetennisclub.org.uk.