Sydenham Tennis Club

Tennis Court 8 Update
I met with the contractors last week to confirm details regarding the new court. Currently, we are aiming for construction between March and May 2026. The start date will depend on prevailing weather at the time and will take approximately six weeks to complete.
The court construction will not require any removal of trees or planting, and the spoil from the lawn will be moved to the overgrown area in the North-west corner of the site to help with the landscaping of that area. 

Christmas & New Year Quiz Night – Saturday 3 January 2026
Join regular host Jeff Richards for an evening of fun with family and friends – the bar will be open from 6.00pm with the quiz starting at 7.00pm. 
Numbers are limited to 8 teams, so please book as soon as possible with Jeff on 07769565095 or at jeff.richards@rcn.org.uk with your name and, if you are entering a team (max 6). Don’t worry if you can’t make up a team or would like to come on your own – Jeff will allocate you a team on the night. Entry: Adults £3 – Children £2.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
28 November: Midweek Mixed Vets v Bexley – won 6-2 (NK Div 4)
30 November: Men’s Vets v Oakwood 3 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 5)
The Squash team results from the last week:
2 December: H v Parklangley 3 – lost 5-14 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, and Friday 1200-2100. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Club Members Christmas Party – Friday 5 December 2025
Join us in the clubhouse for mulled wine and mince pies. The bar open from 6.30-10.30pm. Games and table tennis available in the hall. All members and partners are welcome!

Club Annual General Meeting
There was a lot of information provided to members at the AGM earlier this month, together with interesting discussions on various topics. The Minutes are now available in the Members area of the Club website. 

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
23 November: Men’s 4 v Wye (H) – lost 0-4 (Kent Div 10)
The Squash team results from the last week:
25 November: A v Knole Park 1 – lost 5-15 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1500, and Friday 1200-2100. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Shelter
I’m taking part in the 10K Walk for Home on Tuesday 2 December to raise money for Shelter. There are a record 169,000 children in England who are homeless in temporary accommodation. Any donations to help me reach my target would be hugely appreciated. The money raised will help Shelter be there for more children and families facing homelessness this winter and beyond. You’ll find my fundraising page and more information here.

Young Person’s Welfare Ambassador
As part of the LTA’s commitment to safeguarding, they have created a new role for venues to support the Club Welfare Officer. The Club has decided to look for interest amongst its younger members to see if anyone would consider taking on this role.
The YPWA is aimed at young people aged 14-24 years old – you will find more information here. Please contact me for more details or to express interest.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
15 November: Mixed 2 v Herne Bay 3 (A) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 9)
15 November: Men’s 5 v United 2 (H) – won 2-2 (Kent Div 11)
16 November: Men’s 1 v Sevenoaks 2 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 3)
The Squash team results from the last week:
18 November: H v Tunbridge Wells SRC 4 – won 15-4 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1200, Sunday 0900-1500, and Friday 0900-1800. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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I’m sure that all members will be pleased to learn that our planning application to build a new court on the former croquet lawn has now been granted.

There are a couple of things to confirm with the contractors this week regarding access and drainage, and then I should be in a position to provide a timeline for construction. At present we are optimistic that it will be ready for Easter next year.

Just to confirm that the court surface will be artificial clay, the same as courts 3-7, and will be built by Trevor May contractors who were responsible for all the other courts. When they are on site, repairs will be undertaken to existing courts where there are a few issues.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries regarding the new court. I’ll keep you updated in the regular newsletters when I have further information.

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Club Annual General Meeting – Follow-up
Further to the AGM last week, two members were given awards for service to the Club in a voluntary capacity: Gillian Bartlett was given a Special Recognition Award for her 8 years as Club Chair, plus additional service to the Board of Directors and Tennis Committee; and Joe McTague was given a Volunteer Recognition Award for his work in the squash section over the last year – Joe was unable to attend the AGM, so his award will be presented at 7.15pm on Tuesday 18 November before the league match that night.
Volunteering on a committee or group is very rewarding and a great way to have an input on the direction of the Club. There was a request for volunteers at the AGM, in particular we are looking for members to join the Bar & Events Committee. Please contact me for more information if you are interested.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
8 November: Men’s Vets v Kemsing 2 (H) – lost 1-3 (Kent Div 5)
9 November: Mixed 1 v Canterbury 2 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 2)
9 November: Men’s 2 v DL Kingshill 3 (A) – lost 1-3 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1200, Tuesday 1330-1930, and Friday 1200-1930. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Club Members Christmas Party – Friday 5 December 2025
Join us in the clubhouse for mulled wine and mince pies. The bar open from 6.30-10.30pm. Games and table tennis available in the hall. All members and partners are welcome!

Club Annual General Meeting
Many thanks to all who attended the AGM last night. At the meeting the Board of Directors shared information regarding development plans for the squash court building – converting the current changing rooms into a new social area, and upgrading the changing facilities and toilets. You will find the design pack that has been produced for planning here.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
1 November: Women’s 1 v Canterbury 1 (H) – lost 2-2 (Kent Div 2)
1 November: Men’s 5 v Knoll 6 (A) – lost 2-2 (Kent Div 11)
1 November: Men’s Vets v TwistFizz (A) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 5)
2 November: Men’s 1 v Beckenham 1 (A) – lost 1-3 (Kent Div 3)
2 November: Women’s 2 v DL Beckenham 1 (A) – lost 0-8 (NK Div 3)
6 November: Midweek Mixed Vets v Oakwood (A) – won 6-2 (NK Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1330, and Friday 1200-1930. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Club Annual General Meeting

A reminder that the Club’s 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place on Thursday 6 November 2025 at 8.00pm, which will be held in the Clubhouse. 

You will find the Full Notice & Agenda, and all other relevant documents – Annual Accounts, Directors’ Report, Key Roles – in the Members area of the Club website.

We’ll be providing details at the meeting about progress with the new tennis court and developments regarding the new clubhouse project.

The bar will be open from 7.00pm and there will be a complimentary drink on arrival and a few nibbles available. 

If you would like to table a question at the meeting, please email beforehand to info@sltcc.co.uk.

Please remember that we MUST have a quorum of 17 members present for the meeting to take place, so please do come along.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
25 October: Men’s 3 v Meopham 1 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 6)
26 October: Men’s 1 v Canterbury 2 (H) – won 4-0 Kent Div 3)
29 October: Midweek Mixed Vets v DL Beckenham (H) – tied 4-4 (NK Div 4) 
The Squash team results from the last week:
28 October: A v Bromley Sports 2 – lost 5-14 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Thursday 1830-2130, and Friday 1200-2100. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Squash Beginners Course – Saturday 8 November 2025
There are still places available in the next Squash beginners course with our new coach Matt. This introductory 90 minute session will tell you all you need to know about the game. So, if you are a tennis member, or if you have family and friends, who want to try it out, you’ll find full details and booking here.

Tennis Club Play
The new Thursday afternoon club play session that runs from 1.30-3.30pm has not been that well attended. However, we’re going to continue with the session up to Christmas, so do take the opportunity to play. Remember that this session is open to all adult members.
There have been a few queries about the start of club play, in particular where members have booked courts to play beforehand. The accepted rules of the Tennis committee are that at the start of club play, eg 6.00pm on Thursday, all courts should be vacated and all those attending club play should mix in. This also applies to those who arrive early for club play. You are welcome to warm up beforehand if the courts are free, but this does NOT give you priority to start club play early, and you should all mix in at the start of the session. Please feel free to speak to me if this is unclear.
Also, another reminder that club play balls are provided at the beginning of each session, and should be returned to the clubhouse afterwards. If you arrive for the start of club play, please DO NOT throw away the tubes! These should be kept on each court so that the balls can be replaced/returned. If you leave a club play court and no-one is going on, someone should take responsibility to return the balls – balls should NOT just be left on court.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
18 October: Women’s 2 v Parklangley 2 (H) – tied 4-4 (NK Div 3)
The Squash team results from the last week:
21 October: H v Poult Wood 4 – lost 4-15 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1330, Tuesday 1800-2100, and Friday 1200-2100. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Tennis Court 8 – Planning Update
You may have spotted the planning notices adjacent to the Club entrances over the last couple of weeks. We are now in the final stages of our planning application with Bromley Council, so your support would be really helpful.
If you are a current member, we will be sending out a direct email to you tomorrow with more information about the development, so please take time to read it.

American Mixed Doubles Tournament – Friday 24 October 2025
There are a few spaces remaining in the next tournament. Starting at 6.45pm, you will play a game of mixed doubles for 15 minutes before everything changes – the court you play on, the opposing team, and even your doubles partner! Find out more here. 
All playing categories are welcome to take part. Bar will be open for refreshments afterwards. The entry fee is £8.00 per player.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
10 October: Midweek Mixed Vets v Sidcup Rec (H) – won 6-2 (NK Div 4)
12 October: Mixed 2 v Kings Hill CT 2 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 9)
12 October: Men’s 4 v Bearsted 5 (A) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 10)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1330, Tuesday 0900-1500, and Friday 1200-2100. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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Annual General Meeting – Thursday 6 November 2025
This year’s Club AGM is coming up soon, to which all members are invited. Current members will receive a direct email separately with all the details so keep an eye out.
The meeting starts at 8.00pm – bar will be open from 7.00pm and there will be a complimentary drink on arrival and a few nibbles available.
There is also a display in the clubhouse foyer with information, and images of the redevelopment plan for the squash courts building.  

Club Team Results
Congratulations to the Squash team who finished the Summer season in second place and were promoted to Division 4 for next year. Winter season matches start on 21 October.
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
4 October: Women’s 2 v DL Dartford 2 (A) – tied 2-2 (NK Div 3)
5 October: Women’s 1 v DL Kings Hill 2 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 2)
5 October: Women’s 3 v St John’s 3 (A) – won 3-1 (Kent Div 9)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Monday from 0900-1500, Friday 0900-1800, Saturday 0900-1500, and Sunday 0900-1500. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

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