Saturday morning 23 January at 10.30 hours the players, 3 courts, sheaved their racquets. Best not to name them in case I overlook a willing person. Some twelve members (night, day and social) assembled to hear the plan for the working bee. The plan covered the clubhouse, garden surrounds and the courts. The players volunteered to the three areas which matched their preferences.

Clubhouse. Chairs were moved the centre. Wall perimeters were swept and vacuumed. Then central area was done likewise. Window sills, notice boards, kitchen and comfort rooms cleaned and sanitised. The clubhouse was sparkling to the extent Nigella Lawson would be pleased to present a cooking demonstration.

Garden surrounds. Grass was cut early in the week. Today, shrubs were severely pruned. Gardens beds dug over and weeds removed. Then the whipper/snippers and blower/vacs hummed into action in so many areas. Pruning and the clippings were cleared. Later on, weed-killer will be sprayed on fence-lines. The garden surrounds were comparable to Buckingham Place.

Courts. The fence-lines were raked to collect the pine-needles and other junk. Brick-dust was recovered from build-up areas: water-hose, umpire chairs and fence-lines and spread on to needy court areas. The court lines were checked for missing and doubtful nails. Replacements done. All lines were manually rammed with metal rammer. Australian Open players would be pleased to practice here.

Refreshments. At the end of the work refreshments were on hand and in hand.

Acknowledgement. A sincere thank you to all who worked. You have made the club’s facilities superbly presentable.

And now for a lactic acid rest.

On behalf of the committee,

Alan

23 January 2021