Pythouse Club – Management & Who’s Who
The status of the Club
The Club is a ‘Proprietorial Club’. It does not belong to the members but is part of the Pythouse Estate, owned by Sir Henry Rumbold. It is registered with and supported by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
The General Committee directs the overall policy for the development and maintenance of the Club. In doing so it must, of course, have a view to the long-term health of the Pythouse Estate. The Estate has invested a considerable sum in
developing the Club and therefore seeks to maximise use of the Clubhouse with lettings for exercise classes, art exhibitions and private functions. The resulting income earned by the Club helps to keep the membership fees down.
All committee members are unpaid. They are Club members who give their time freely to ensure the successful management of the Club. The club employs one administrator for a few hours per month to market the Club and the Clubhouse as a hire venue and organise bookings.
Pythouse General Committee (February 2024)
- Josh Berry– Chairman
- tbc –Vice-Chairman
- Teresa Taylor-Wolff – Treasurer
- James Carter - Chairman Tennis Committee
- Rita Howcroft - Championship organiser
- Christine McKillop - Membership Secretary
- Hugh Macnair - Facilities oversight
- Bede Grossmith - Secretary
Tennis Organisation
The day-to-day management of the tennis activities and Club facilities is undertaken by the Tennis Committee, which meets four times a year. This comprises solely volunteer members - there are no permanent or paid staff.
Coaching is provided by PTR and LTA accredited professional coaches, Ben Joy, Dimitri Antoniou & Tom Allen. Group coaching sessions are booked via the website, and individual coaching is booked directly with Ben, Dimitri or Tom.
Members of the Tennis Committee organise all the tennis related activities, and social functions of the Club with assistance from members including:
- Coaching & Holiday Camps
- Social Tennis
- Social Activities – Bar, BBQs, Music Evenings
- Sarum, Shaftesbury and Dorset League teams
- Club Tournaments
- Annual Club Championships
Tennis Organisation
- James Carter – Chairman and League Team Captain
- Christine McKillop – Membership Secretary
- Rita Howcroft – Club Championships
- Hugh Macnair – Social Tennis, Clubhouse, Mailbox (info@..)
- Helen Kirkland – Social Tennis
- Liz Whitehouse– Safeguarding
- Tim Pollard – Committee member
- Polly Sealy - Comittee Member
The Annual General Meeting, held in early summer, is open to all members. This is an opportunity for members to hear reports on the Club’s progress, meet the Committees, and ask questions.
