A fresh challenge this past year was the news that our Senior Pro Andrew Davis had been diagnosed with cancer and needed to take 6 months leave for treatment and recovery. There was a frantic search for a replacement pro, and the finances to pay one. We welcomed Andrew back in May and decided to take some risk and keep on our third pro with the financial support of our OUTF foundation.
We have made a loss due to ongoing increases in energy and staff costs and further, necessary, estate improvements.
Membership over the five categories are as follows:
| 31 st July 2020 | 31 st July 2021 | 31 st July 2022 | 31 st July 2023 | 31 st Oct 2024 | |
| Full Booking | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Full Senior: | 129 | 128 | 117 | 117 | 130 |
| Country: | 51 | 57 | 59 | 64 | 61 |
| Oxford Students: | 71 | 19 | 64 | 67 | 47 |
| Friends of the Court: | 51 | 48 | 44 | 43 | 37 |
| Totals (non student) | 240 | 241 | 228 | 232 | 236 |
In addition we have 6 junior members and 20 associate members who do not pay subs
Court usage has been improving all the time and is slowly approaching pre Covid levels.
In the varsity match played at Lord’s, the Women lost 1-5, and the Men won 5-1. The seconds played in Oxford this year, and the Women lost 2-4, and the Men lost 2-4
The development of the Railroad Club continues. The alumnus database is getting more complete and membership is being consolidated. We had a successful Railroad Club day at the court in June with a very enjoyable dinner at Vincents. There was an event at Queens in October, and the Railroad club has supported top level coaching from Rob and Clare Fahey for the blues squads.
The Barber Lintott mixed doubles was won by M Strevens/A Witheford beating G Beglan/I Barry 8/7(this season). In the Aberdare M Joyner beat C Lane-Fox, and in the Pamela Wallis, A Thomson beat P Norris 9/6. In the Grant Bates handicap doubles A Charania/T Ault beat D Talbot-Ponsonby/A Fort 6/0. The A1 RAM over 40 handicap doubles was won by E Smith/D Thomas over M Dick/C Lamming 6/5 (this season).In the Wroth Cup Backhouse/Baker beat Crowley/Lintott 6/0 6/2. The Beard Cup was won by M Crowley over H Taylor 9/7. The Over 60’s doubles competition was won by A Fort/L Smith beating W Alden/J Knight 8/5. In the Strutt & Parker Up the Unicorn beat the Playboys 6/0. The Stubbings Doubles competition was won by T Silk-Carter/C Morton over S Lowden/M Strevens 6/1. In the Knight Cup M Henman beat A Deakin 6/1 6/3 (this season). In the Broadbent competition P Norris beat M Dick 6/3.
The three local schools continue to be involved. Christchurch Cathedral School and Dragon School have their own sessions and Magdalen College School send pupils to the Wednesday junior sessions. We are reviewing the popular six-week blocks of Junior sessions where possible, and we are once again indebted to The Dedanists who assist with the finances for our Junior programme.
In August 2023 Andrew Davis our senior Pro had a series of critical family health issues, culminating in his own diagnosis of cancer. He had to take six months leave to allow him to have chemotherapy. In November we appointed Jim Ludekens as our temporary junior Pro to help keep the club going. A big thank you to Craig and Jim for doing such a fine job at such short notice. Andrew made a good recovery and returned to work in May 2024. Faced with the uncertainty of his full integration into the team, the Oxford Tennis Foundation, our charity, agreed to support a further year of Jim Ludeken’s salary. So we have been in the fortunate position of having three professionals sharing the duties with Andrew taking on an increasing management role.
Sponsors for the main club tournaments were most notably Pol Roger, Strutt & Parker, Aldens, Howdens Insurance, A1 Plumbing Technology, White Balloon, Mayfield, Savage Selection and flm wealth management along with Roland Knight (Knight Cup) and Beard Construction (Beard Cup). The National League Division 1 team was jointly sponsored by Derek Williams and Savage Selection (Mark Savage).
Howard Cox continues to look after our estate. Under our tenancy agreement with Merton College we are responsible for exterior paintwork every 5 years, and this is in progress but has not been without both technical and administrative problems and considerable cost. Court lighting and a number of safety issues are being addressed. The necessary updating of estate maintenance has been a major contributor to our increased costs.
The Tambour Foundation a charitable trust Simon Stubbings helped to establish, has provided funds to support an annual competition and improve membership and access over the next ten years. So we have now had two Stubbings Cup competitions and there is a membership drive ongoing and we are most grateful for the continued support.
The committee personnel are:
Also routinely joining the committee ex officio are Andrew Davis, and Craig Greenhalgh and the Blues men’s and ladies’ captains.
Accounting support continues to be provided by Alana Davies - book-keeping and Julie Sachno - payroll. Mercer Lewin remain the Club’s accountants and thanks go to Martin Mercer for his unstinting service and support of the Club
The Constitution requires me to report that:
Neil Mortensen December 2024