The club was saddened to hear last week of the death of Ian Smith at 55 years old. Ian was a member of Prestwich Tennis Club in the late sixties and seventies.

In my opinion, and of my generation, he was probably the most gifted tennis player ever produced at our club. He was brilliant and a regular member of the Lancashire County Team. His was famed for his doubles partnership with Peter Goodman and I for one spent many hours watching them play together.

Ian’s father is the Manchester City legend George Smith and of course Ian was an avid follower of his Dad’s club.

Peter Goodman’s brother Robert attended the funeral as a representative of PCTBC. Our condolences go to his family and friends at this very sad time.

God bless Ian.

Brian Lorenzini
Chairman PCTBC

Do you think your club is going in the right direction? Obviously I do and our financial performance and investments allow me the confidence to support my view.

The comparison of the last five years accounts shows growth at a level which completely reverses the market trend of comparable clubs and indeed a lot of Public Houses. Our bar takings have risen 50% and the commercial activity of the club is now at a level which provides us with much needed income streams to both meet our overheads and allow capital development of the club well into the future.

Members will be aware of the legacy we have started to receive from the estate of the Late Beryl Shaw. This wonderful gesture by a former member and regular supporter of our club will be used fully to support the agreed business plan of the club. Beryl was always talking to me about the club and the future and made a financial contribution to SPACSE as well. We will ensure we do not forget Beryl!

When we put together our business plan to Sport England we had to show major development in our membership figures in support of our application. We are due to update these figures next March and they will show an overall increase in membership of 30%. These figures are supported by the accounts of the club.

I have already shared with you elsewhere the crucial projects that lie ahead in terms of development and maintaining existing facilities, although I do intend to update you in this report on the most imminent capital project (upgrading the surface) our main access road.

We had intended to do this work last September/October and it was delayed and then subsequently stopped in November as we were advised of the Plans to develop the land by the garages in tandem with the Metrolink. We are now advised of a further change to the plans which allows us the confidence to proceed without wasting club funds! It is now our intention to complete this work by the end of March.

The major setback to the club in the last year was the loss of one of our volunteer workers Keith Mills. His support to me personally was massive and hopefully his memorial will be the ongoing improvement of the club he worked so tirelessly to support and develop! Many of us are trying to keep up with the volume of Keith’s work.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Anne Orrell, our outgoing President for her time in office as well as continuing her work on the Finance Team. She has set a great example to our next President who will of course continue his work as my engineering assistant. I would also highlight the work done by Steve Dixon on operating and managing the Bar. Thanks Steve, I know all you normally get are the complaints but not from me, brilliant.

Thank you also to the many members you give up their time to the club it will always be appreciated.

Brian Lorenzini
Chairman PCTBC
January 2012

Notice is given of this year’s Prestwich Cricket, Tennis & Bowling Club’s Annual General Meeting which will be held at the club on Sunday 22nd January at 12pm. Please find agenda and proposals below.

Business

1. Apologies

2. Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting

3. Treasurer’s Report

4. Section Reports

5. Amendments to club Rules, proposed by the Management Committee.

•Subscription fees

To increase Life Membership to £1,200      (an increase of £400)

To introduce a Late Payment fee of £10 if subscriptions are not paid by 31st May.

Other membership subscriptions remain unchanged.

6. Nomination of Officers for the ensuing season.

Officers for re-election for this term are the Chairman, Secretary and House Manager.

Janet Austin
Secretary

Read on to find out who this months winners are in the Prestwich Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Clubs monthly cash prize draw. Cash prizes totaling £400 are up for grabs each month. Ask at the bar if you’re not already playing.

January 2012

£200 Main Prize: Grace Fenton

2 x £100 Runners Up Prizes:

Adam Friend
Ted Birtwistle

Firstly, I would like to wish all members at PCTBC a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and to continued success for all our teams across all our sports.

2011 has seen us come through financially from the massive investment in the successful SPACSE project and start again to grow our funds for the demands of our future business plans. The Club will announce shortly its full year accounts at the AGM in January but having met with our accountants yesterday I can confirm that they will show the year on year growth that is required to maintain and progress a club of our community stature.

Apart from constantly maintaining and improving our playing facilities and meeting the massive demands that overheads bring, we continue to grow. Our membership numbers have increased, which of course includes the successful inclusion of our new Football Section, and I must also mention the successful Darts and Domino team too. Club membership is now running at ca 600; well above the figure we committed to with Sport England for the SPACSE grants.

We have just recently purchased and installed Solar Panel system which will reduce our energy costs over many years and also spent money on improving our security by putting security shutters on to a FOB entry system. This involved a capital outlay of ca £14k. Most members will want to know when we will spend on the main entry road; and I am delighted to confirm we will spend serious capital on our entry road and are currently awaiting news of the likely development of the collection of garages at our main point of entry prior to committing funds to the improvement of the road.

Future Capital plans (other than those already mentioned) include replacement of the ‘Three Sand Based Tennis Courts’. This will probably happen within 3/5 years but is dependent on the success of planned maintenance options which have, thankfully, proven successful. The cost will be ca £50k and is already planned within the financial forecasts of our business plans.

Other Projects which are gaining momentum include the development of Grimshaws (Prestwich Arts College led Project) which could provide state of the art Football and Athletic playing facilities. This will require massive grant support from several funding agencies and a lot of work for committed members.

We set out five years ago to ensure a successful and stable future for our club and to provide a legacy for future generations. I feel at this time we can be justifiably pleased with our progress but we still require your continued support.

Can you provide additional support? You can? Go on you know you can! If not already a member then please join our 300 Club (currently 235 are members) at a cost of £4 per month.

Brian Lorenzini
Chairman of PCTBC

With the festive period almost upon us, please read on for details of when the club will be open for business.

Sunday 25th December – CLOSED
Monday 26th December – CLOSED
Tuesday 27th December – CLOSED
Wednesday 28th December – OPEN at 8pm
Thursday 29th December – OPEN at 8pm
Friday 30th December – OPEN at 7pm
Saturday 31st December (New Years Eve) – OPEN 1pm till 2am

Read on to find out who this months winners are in the Prestwich Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Clubs monthly cash prize draw. Cash prizes totaling £400 are up for grabs each month. Ask at the bar if you’re not already playing.

December 2011

£200 Main Prize: Heather Wharton

2 x £100 Runners Up Prizes:

Shelly Wharmby
John Bentley

Coupled with the fact that the forum currently doesn’t have any members that represent local sport, they decided to approach PCTBC to look for a suitable young person to fulfill this role.

If you are aged between 16 and 24 and would like to get involved, then please contact Brian Lorenzini on brian@pctbc.com who will pass your details on to the group.

Read on to find out who this months winners are in the Prestwich Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Clubs monthly cash prize draw. Cash prizes totaling £400 are up for grabs each month. Ask at the bar if you’re not already playing.

November 2011

£200 Main Prize: Liz Owen

2 x £100 Runners Up Prizes:

Paul Leonard
George Barry

As most people are aware Ian has been suffering with his knee and hip for the last couple of years. So much so walking was difficult never mind working as he did on the ground and in particular the square.

Well he has finally had the operation he has been waiting for and last week received a new hip. All is going well and Ian should be out of hospital soon.

Hopefully he will be back on the ground next season.

Bonne chance Ian!