I became Chairman of our beautiful Coolhurst club on 16 th March and my first action with the new GMC was to close it! It was not a great start, but of course we support the Government requirements to protect the health of the nation as taking precedent above all else.
I have been meeting with my dedicated and talented GMC colleagues and club management regularly since closure and we are very pleased that all our excellent staff, except Naomi and Bob, who we need to retain to support memberships and financial matters, have been put on full paid furlough as part of the Government initiative. We anticipate that they will return seamlessly on the re-opening of the club.
Although the club is closed for the time being, it still has an important part to play as the centre of our community of Coolhurst members and the friendships that have been established there, particularly in the current circumstances. That is why I wanted to start this blog, not only to keep you generally updated, but also to keep in touch with the many friends I have at the club, to get to know more members, and for them to get to know me.
I plan to post regularly with photos, please feel free to engage with me if you want to.
This is a time when we will all need to support each other and on behalf of the GMC I would like to thank all members for their commitment to our amazing and historic club and its future.
‘It is in the shelter of each other that the people live’ – Old Irish proverb.
Very nice blog post. Keep up the good work!
A very fine idea Steve and easy to navigate. Lucy W
Thank you Lucy.
Glad to see another way to interact with members
Thanks Ian, I think it’s a very good way and vice versa, it is set up to be a forum for members to interact as well.
good to hear from you, missing squash so hopefully soon
for the members who have time visit also our website flysunvillas:)
all take care
Nice blog
Best wishes in all that you and the Gmc have to do to manage the club through this difficult period.
Thank you Eta, I will be posting regularly during our period of closure as a good platform for communication.
Thanks Steve, I’m sure all members are looking forward to the when the Club can open its doors once again.
Good morning Steve,
What a great idea! Real evidence of a genuine attempt to communicate openly with members. Hopefully a sign of a bright and forward looking new era for Coolhurst.
Good on you fella!
Thanks very much, Steve.. Great start to your blog to announce your record of being the first chairman ever to close the club as his first action!. We look forward to re-opening of the club to be your second action!
All the very best to everyone……Liz Alsford
Thank you Liz, I guess I’ll go down in Coolhurst history as the chairman that closed the club, but hopefully, as you say, re-opened it! We are truly living through very historic times.
Hi Steve, as per usual, leading from the front and exemplifying a wonderful example of how to inspire the Coolhurst community. Keep up the excellent work. Coolhurst, in your capable and measured hands; can steer a course of of such unchartered waters ie referencing the coronavirus (COVID 19). Keep going, as we are all behind you; iin all that you continue to do! Welcome aboard! Warmest regards, Lorna
Thank you for the kind words and support Lorna.
Hello Steve – nice idea. I’d like to thank the community-minded Nigel Hutchings and Lucy Whatling who helped Phil Hull, Steve Morley and me to get some delicious hoppy ale so we could enjoy a post match pint, albeit without playing squash or meeting in person. Cheers..!
The bar may be closed Ralph, but you can always rely on our bar secretary, Nigel, to look after the best interests of the members at all times.
I’ve only recently got to know Lucy, but she is gem of a member, very pro-active in support of the club.
Hi Steve,
Maybe all the musicians at Coolhurst could get together on zoom, WhatsApp, or whatever, and organise a reopening gig or just a jam? It’s always good to see the artistic side to Coolhurst, and not just the sporting and socialising sides.
Keep up the good work.
Best Christian
Hi Christian, sounds like a very good idea to me.
I’m planning to bring music to the club regularly in due course.
That is just the best idea………keep the same genre though! ? For the opening party, along with bringing a food dish as we used to on tennis finals day.