During all this time playing on the courts continued with very little restriction - it is reassuring to note how fully our facilities are used during daytime: also, after a day of rain, late in the evening under the 'bubbles' protection.
Visitors continue to arrive: in the Christmas period we were glad to welcome two old friends Veteran Captains of Ireland and Sweden teams: Neagle Cathcart and Mikael Kirs :
Allow me at this point to introduce a sad note at this point concerning the passing of a long-time member of our Club by a crushing illness after a lifetime of sport and artistic activity. Michel Slatkine was known to many for his cheerfulness, good humour and sportsmanship. To record this loss, a small gathering of friends took place in the restaurant. Here are photos of Michel in happier times, and of the meeting of friends in remembrance of him.
Now most players are familiar with our veteran worker, Fred and know that it is thanks to him that the courts are kept in such fine condition - few however know who can act when Fred is on holiday. The following photo gives away this secret:
Another sturdy Club character was caught bringing in extra decorations in the form of one of his wife's recent works of art:
Well done, Nicole and Gilles.
Younger members that are training hard day by day form part of the thriving Tennis Academy: the girls, enthusiastically led by Nathalie Ballet are on court morning and afternoon for physical exercises, tennis traing and matches. Two of them, Mirabelle Njoze and Nelise Verster leave tomorrow for a tournament in Hammamet in Tunisia - you can follow their progress in detail on internet. Here's another one of the group, Chelsea Samways in action here recently.
Back to the courts now - to practise if you're lucky enough to have reserved one; otherwise to watch one of the high-level matches. The first Club Tournament of the year is well and truly in progress.
