LTA chief has smashing time on visits

The president of the Lawn Tennis Association visited venues across the county over the weekend.

President David Rawlinson was to be the honoured guest at the Kent LTA awards evening in early March but was forced to pull out because of a positive Covid test.

A weekend trip around Kent was arranged instead, with Mr Rawlinson visiting the different types of venues on offer in the county, including on Saturday the Maidstone LTC, the Kings Hill Community Tennis venue and first stop the St John’s Tennis Club in Tunbridge Wells.

The seven venues chosen were all recent award winners.

The LTA president was accompanied by Kent Tennis board member and Kent representative on the LTA council, Nigel Jordan.

St John’s was included as they were the Kent LTA 2020 small club (1-4 courts) of the year award winner and 2022 is their centenary year. They caught the attention of the judging panel after successfully constructing two new grass tennis courts by refurbishing and reseeding the redundant bowling green.

The new grass tennis courts were made achievable by extensive fundraising events and enthusiastic volunteer effort. The club has now raised just under £14,000 through a very successful crowdfunding in the autumn of 2021 which will enable them to make some long awaited improvements to the clubhouse.

A Kent LTA spokesperson said: “David was particularly impressed with the club spirit, enhanced through lockdown. The way the club has managed to get so many members to volunteer is truly remarkable.” From Tunbridge Wells they travelled to Maidstone LTC. Maidstone LTC was the Kent Club of the Year 2019. Covid lockdowns meant they were not able to host - as would be traditional - a Kent Tennis

Day in 2020 which would be expected by Kent club of the year.

During the Covid pandemic the club renegotiated its lease with Maidstone Borough Council to enable them to build a new clubhouse and patio area. Kent Tennis made an interest-free loan to help with this project. The club now also has outline planning permission for two new courts. As part of the new lease requirements nonmembers can use the courts on a pay-and-play basis. Rawlinson also visited Kings Hill Community Tennis Venue, which has won the Kent Community Programme of the Year 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020, and was Highly Commended at the Regional Awards in 2020.