Rain stops play, but tennis will return

And when schools closed for the summer holiday the minds of many families were set on going away.

So, choosing July 28 for Battle’s Big Event’s Family Tennis Day turned out to be a mistake.

The tournament has been postponed to Saturday September 8.

This offers five weekends to parents and children, who would like to take part, to gain tennis experience under the guidance of Nick Montague, who is a young qualified coach with a long tennis pedigree, who has been recommended to me by Richard Harrison, the principal coach at Amherst Tennis Club, and who is keen to take responsibility in Battle for Tennis.

Until the tennis courts are ready for use, in deference to footballers and basketball players, he would like to help groups of parents and children on the MUGA for no more than one hour on each Saturday and Sunday.

His mobile number is 07824 799 632 and his home number is 01424 848572.

I hope the opportunity will be taken up by lots of people, giving Nick an encouraging start in developing tennis in Battle.

The format for September 8 will be the same – a round robin tournament offering 180 people from eight age groups (from 3–5 to 60+) one hour’s tennis through four separate 15 minute matches – mostly in parent/child pairs – between 9am and 5pm.

At 11.30am the resurfaced tennis courts will be formally opened by the Mayor, Richard Bye, and the special guest will be Richard Harrison, who will give a demonstration and useful advice to parents before the second session starts at noon.

Tony Perkins

Caldbec Hill, Battle