Chairman’s Annual Dinner Speech 2019

Annie Lucas welcomed everyone to the 29th AGM and thanked John Stew and his team at the Cricket Club for their excellent service.

She was delighted that so many people had come to the AGM and meal and advised that a total of 326 players had taken part in the Vets (240) and Super Vets (86) tournaments and thanked the players for their continued support.

Annie advised that Mary Vesty, who had been a committee member and Super Vets Tournament organiser for many years had passed away in July last year after a short illness. Alison has kindly taken over the role of Supervets Tournament organiser.

The LVLTA donated £200 to LOROS in Marys memory.

The Committee, who are all volunteers, were thanked for their hard work running the two tournaments, the website, treasurer and administrative duties and latterly for organising the AGM and meal.

Cheryl Arlott, who has served on the committee for the last 6 years, is retiring and Barbara Williams will take over her website co-ordinators role.  Cheryl was thanked for her contribution and presented with a small token of appreciation.

In 2018, a total of £1,500 was donated to charity.  £1,000 to LOROS and £500 to The Alzheimer’s Society.

This year we will be donating £300 to 3 charities.

Steve Good was introduced and thanked again for agreeing to act as photographer.

Annie advised that winners and runner’s-up of each division would be announced together to collect their prizes and have a photograph taken.  If anyone would prefer a separate photograph Steve would be happy to oblige.

To celebrate the achievements of the LVLTA, Steve Stroud was invited to our AGM as he is currently Director of Tennis Leicestershire and Chairman of the Competitions Committee.  He has played for Leicester Forest East and Leicestershire for over 40.

Annie mentioned that the Committee was always open to suggestions and comments.

If anyone is interested in joining the Committee, please let us know.

Anne Lucas

Chairman’s Annual Dinner Speech 2018

Good evening Ladies

I am delighted to welcome you all to our 28^th AGM and our 3^rd year at the County Cricket Club.

I hope that you will all enjoy your dinner and the wine which has been provided by the Association.  The bar is available if you wish to make further purchases.  I would like to remind you all to fill in a charity proposal form, if you haven’t already done so, for the draw later.

Before we begin our dinner, let us take a few moments of quiet reflection to count our blessings and to consider the idea that we here are almost certainly part of the luckiest generation that has ever lived.  But let us remember that there are people around the world whose circumstances are cruelly different.

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I hope you have all enjoyed your meal.  Please join me in thanking John and his team for their excellent service.

We are delighted to see so many of you here tonight, and I believe there is a record of 238 players from both the Vets and the Super Vets.  Thank you all for your continued support of the Association.

When I first made these notes in the sunshine last week, I began with, “What a relief at last to have been experiencing some better weather after what has been a very long, cold, wet and windy winter.  Let’s hope that wasn’t our English summer!    I know this has caused many of you to have issues completing your matches.   This is why we urge you to arrange your fixtures early in the season.  Nevertheless, we hope that you have all had some great tennis.

And what a polite game tennis is.  The main word seems to be sorry and admiration for each others play across the net!

I would like to thank the Committee, who are all volunteers, for their hard work from running the leagues, the website, treasurer and secretarial duties and of course all the effort that goes into organising this event tonight.

Unfortunately, Mary Vesty our Super Vets Tournament Organiser has been unwell and we are very sad that she feels unable to continue with her role on the Committee.   I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all of us to thank her for her magnificent work in running the Super Vets and all her continuous work on the Committee.  Mary was unable to be with us tonight and we send her our best wishes.  This year both the Vets and the Super Vets leagues will be distributed by email.

We are very pleased to have Barbara Williams and Alison Trafford, both from Roundhill Tennis Club, who have volunteered to join us on the Committee and we will be finding jobs for them.

Please don’t forget that we are always open as a Committee to comments or suggestions.

Sadly last year we lost a stalwart of Leicestershire Tennis, Martin Nicholson, who I am sure many of you would have known from the County Championships.  He worked hard for many years to promote tennis in Leicestershire and will be greatly missed.

Last year we donated £500 each to 3 charities; Rainbows, Hope Against Cancer and The Diabetes Association.  This year we will again be donating to 3 charities at £500 each and the drawer will take place before the prize giving.

I am happy to introduce and thank Steve Good who is kindly doing our photography again this evening.  We will call the winners and runners up of each division together so that they can collect their prizes and have their photos taken.  However, I am sure that if anyone would like any individual photos, Steve will be happy to oblige.

It is my pleasure to introduce our guest speaker, Mr Alan Gray, a former Wimbledon Umpire, who I am sure many of you will remember from last year to continue with Part 2 of “You cannot be Serious”….. Mr Alan Gray.

Anne Lucas

Chairman’s Annual Dinner Speech 2017

Good evening Ladies

Welcome to our 27^th AGM and our 2^nd AGM Dinner at the Cricket Club.

I hope you will enjoy your meal and the wine provided by the Association. The bar is available should you wish to purchase additional tipples.

May I remind you to fill in a Charity Proposal Form for the draw later.

Before we begin our meal, let us have a moment of reflection.  I am sure you will agree that whatever our own personal circumstances, we are incredibly fortunate and privileged compared with many in the world. We should remember to have an attitude of gratitude and look for opportunities to share our good fortune.

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I hope you have all enjoyed your meal and I take this opportunity to thank John and his team for their excellent service.

There are copies of last years’ minutes on each table.  Are there any matters arising from these?  Could we have a proposer to accept the minutes please?  Now a seconder?

We continue to be well supported with 220 ladies playing in the Vets and Super Vets.  No doubt you have all had some “You cannot be Serious” and “You should have gone to Specsavers” moments?  However, your commitment to fair play and enjoyment of tennis is without question a most valuable contribution to ensure the continued success of this Association.  Thank you very much for your participation.

A quote from one of the most successful lady players, the great Martina. “It is often said that it is not whether you win or lose that counts, …….. but whoever said it probably lost”.

The Association is run by a small Committee of 6 ladies and I would like to thank them for their hard work – organising the leagues, the website, keeping the accounts in order and all the necessary admin work including the organising of this evening.  Offers of help from members are very welcome.  Also, we are always open to comments and suggestions.

Very sadly last year we lost one of our members, and former Secretary, Sheila Caban.  Sheila was a prominent tennis figure and I am sure is missed both on and off the court.  A donation of £150 was made from the Association in her memory.

Last year we donated £250 to each of the 3 charities you chose.  Missing Persons UK, Diabetes UK and the Leicester Hospitals Charity.  The  certificates are displayed on the board.  This year we will again be donating to 3 charities of your choice, at £500 each, and the draw will take place before the prize giving.

I am happy to introduce Steve Good who has kindly offered to be our photographer this evening.  Thank you Steve.  We will call the winners and runners-up of each division to collect their prizes and have pictures taken together.  Steve will also be happy to take pictures for anyone who would like them.

I now ask Lynn Norwood to give the Treasurer’s Report.

Is there any other business?

In that case I am delighted to introduce our guest speaker, Mr Alan Gray, who  is a former Wimbledon Umpire and his speech tonight is aptly titled “You cannot be Serious”.

Anne Lucas

CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL DINNER SPEECH 2016

I hope that you have all enjoyed your meal, and I thank John and his team for looking after us so well.

The association continues to be well supported with 220 ladies taking part in 14 divisions plus 74 players in the Super Vets and I am sure that you have all had some great tennis.

Sadly last year we lost one of our founder members, Joyce Butterfield, who I am sure many of you will have known as a very active tennis player and her many other contributions.  A cheque for £100.00 was donated to the Parkinson’s Association in her memory.  We also lost a dear friend, Kathy Geddes, who most of you would have known as Kathy Bakewell.  Kathy is very much missed.

Last year we donated to 2 charities; The CLASP and the Alzheimer’s Society, both receiving cheques for £250.00.  This year we intend to donate the same amount to 3 charities and the draw will take place later.

This is my first year as Chairman and I would like to thank the Committee for their valuable support.  We do have some changes within the Committee.  Mary Jarvis is standing down after many years of being our Treasurer and we thank her for doing a fabulous job for us and we would like to now make a small presentation to Mary.

Lynn Norwood is our Tournament organiser with the help of Cheryl Arlott.   Lynn is standing down to become our Treasurer and I am sure that you will all agree that Lynn has done an excellent job and we are grateful to her for her hard work.  Cheryl continues in her role and also organises the website so thank you Cheryl.  Val Noble has offered to join the Committee and take over from Lynn as the Tournament organiser subject to your approval.  I am sure she will do a great job.  We thank our very efficient secretary Liz Harris.

Thank you to Mary Vesty our SUPER  Super Vets organiser who happily continues in this role for us.  Unfortunately Mary is unwell and unable to be here tonight and we wish her well. On behalf of the Committee I would like to thank you all for your participation.

A couple more thank you’s to Sandra Middleditch and Val Lord for being our photographers for the evening.  The pictures will be posted on our website and we present a small token of our appreciation to them both.

We have come across a long abandoned shield and we are not really sure of its original purpose but we would like to press it into service again so we are open to suggestions as to how it can be best used.  So we would be grateful for any feedback.

Before I ask Mary to give her report, I wonder if you would like to join me in a toast to all those who have a special birthday today, including of course Her Majesty the Queen.

ANNE LUCAS

Chairman’s Annual Dinner Speech 2015

I would like to start my Annual Report by saying a huge thank you to four ladies who are here this evening for their foresight in recognising the need for a tournament for lady veteran tennis players in Leicestershire. They are Jan Provis, Thelma Bull, Joyce Adams and Gill Thompson.

They are just four of the original committee members of seven who are able to be with us tonight. I am sure you didn’t ever think the organisation would become such an amazing success? From a very small beginning we have grown to become one of the largest veteran ladies tennis organisations with over 250 members. Jan, Thelma, Joyce, Gill, please take a bow ladies and let us salute you.

The Committee continues to work very hard on your behalf and I would personally like to thank everyone for their continued support and the efficient way in which they all contribute to making the LVLTA so successful. Lynn Norwood and Cheryl Arlott continue to organise the Winter Tournament in which over 250 members play. Mary Vesty oversees the Summer Supervets and Mary Jarvis looks after our Finances.

Cheryl has been instrumental in getting the website up and running so we can all be kept informed of what is happening within the organisation. This year we were delighted that Liz Harris agreed to join us to become Honorary Secretary. Sandra Middleditch continues to be our Honorary Photographer and she will be on her feet soon to cover the presentation of prizes.

This is my last AGM as Chairman as I am retiring from the Committee and Anne Lucas will be taking over from me? I know that Anne will make a very efficient Chairman and I hope you will all join with me in voting her into that position shortly.

I hope that you have all filled in the slips you were given on your arrival to nominate your favourite charity, as once again we are able donate two £250 cheques. The draw will take place later in the meeting.

You have all received a pen this evening as a momento of our Anniversary. Would you please see Liz later who will give you pens for those members of your club, not present this evening, who have also played in the tournament this year. You were also given a questionnaire about LVLTA clothing. Do please fill them in and Liz will collect them later.

Finally I would like to thank all the staff at Devonshire Place for their support in the organisation of this event.

Wendy England

Chairman’s Annual Dinner Speech 2014

Welcome to Devonshire Place once again for the 24th AGM.  I hope you have enjoyed your meal and we will endeavour to get through the business of the AGM so we can get on with the main event of the evening.

The Committee continue to work hard on your behalf.  Anne Lucas has joined us this year and I know she will be a very efficient member of the Committee.

Once again we have had a good entry for the winter tournament, over 250 ladies playing during the winter months.  Lynn continues as Tournament Director,  joined this year by Cheryl who has taken on responsibility for half the divisions.  I am sure you will all agree that this has worked well.  Tournament Director is a big job and we are very grateful to Lynn and Cheryl for so ably managing the organisation of the groups.

Mary Vesty continues to organise the Super Vets Tournament, played during the summer which Mary does most ably.

Mary Jarvis remains as Treasurer looking after the finances of the organisation and has once again agreed that we can give £500 to charity.  The Committee decided to donate £250 to 2 charities and we will make the draw for those charities at the end of the AGM.

This year has seen the introduction of LVLTA.com.  We are hugely grateful to Cheryl for the efficient way in which she has organised this and I know she would like to say a few words about it in AOB.

On a sad note I have to inform you that Pat Walne has resigned from the Committee.  Pat has worked tirelessly over the years for LVLTA taking over as Tournament Director in difficult circumstances.  We have benefited from her hard work and experience.  Again I stress that we would welcome new members onto the Committee as we must move forward to continue to thrive with fresh ideas.  Please speak to one of us if you are interested in joining a lively Committee dedicated to promoting Ladies Veterans Tennis in Leicestershire.

Finally, my thanks to the staff at Devonshire Place and Carly, in particular, for their support in the organisation of this event.

Wendy England
Chairman