VARIOUS rooms in the Helensburgh Lawn Tennis Club clubhouse are available for hire for club meetings or private events.

For details, costs and regulations please contact the house and grounds convener, Ian Parlane, on 01436-673295, or email him on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FOR several decades Helensburgh Lawn Tennis Club has run a Club Lottery to help in raising funds for club development.

Each December membership applications are invited by current lottery organiser Gay Black, of Letrault Farm, Rhu, and draws are made monthly throughout the year. In 2016 each month's lucky winner receives £25, except in December when there is a £40 first prize, £20 second prize, and £10 third prize. Because of a lower entry in 2019, the monthly prize was reduced to £20.

The 2009 winners are:

January — Campbell Fullarton, no.14

February — Mike Bews, no.70

March — John Stevenson, no.08

April — Joanna Crumless, no.55

May — Victoria Miller, no.12

June — David McCowan, no.67

July — Mike Wright, no.36

August — Judy Boyd, no.24

September — Jill Fulton, no.3

October — Ralph Ward, no.5

November — Lizanne Newton, no.40

December — £50, Frank Aranci, no.45; £25, Val Pace, no.43

The 2010 winners are:

January — Jim McDowall, no.25

February — Alastair Hope, no.36

March — John Stevenson, no.23

April — Judy Boyd, no.58

May — Jane Nicholson, no.18

June — Louise Burnet, no.38

July — Harry Fotheringham, no.16

August — Louise Burnet, no.39

September — Val Pace, no.12

October — Campbell Fullarton, no.10

November — Jill Fulton, no.3

December — £60, Harry Fotheringham, no.16; £40, Ann Morison, no.19; £25, Elspeth MacLean, no.43

The 2011 winners are:

January — John Stevenson, no.13

February — Louise Burnet, no.30

March — Jill Fulton, no.1

April — Mike Bews, no.47

May — Judy Boyd, no.50

June — Victoria Miller, no.6

July — Elspeth MacLean, no.60

August — Joy Michie, no.67

September — Judith Reilly, no.23

October — Flossie Kent, no.33

November — Jill Fulton, no.3

December — £40, Victoria Miller, no.6; £20, John Stevenson, no.16; £10, Marie Cordner, no.27

The 2012 winners are:

January — Alastair Black, no.39

February — Marie Cordner, no.14

March — Val Pace, no.11

April — Allan Naismith, no.20

May — Judy Boyd, no.68

June — Phyllis Fullarton, no.2

July — Alan Mitchelson, no.52

August — Bobby Kerr, no.43

September — Elspeth MacLean, no.45

October — Christopher Black, no.41

November — Alan Mitchelson, no.51

December — £40, Jocky Cairns; £20, Joy Michie; £10, Esther Dunbar

The Lotto was not operated in 2013, but resumed in January 2014.

The 2014 winners are:

January — Harry Fotheringham, no.12

February — Dinkie Fairley, no.22

March — Alan Mitchelson, no.18

April — Alison Fotheringham, no.11

May — Judy Boyd, no.26

June — Pat Coutts, no.21

July — Alan Mitchelson, no.15

August — Bobby Kerr, no.45

September — Jill Fulton, no.9

October — Donald Fullarton, no.3

November — Victoria Miller, no.5

December — £30, Alan Mitchelson, no.17; £15, Jocky Cairns, no.48; £10 Pat Coutts, no.20

The 2015 winners are:

January — Judy Boyd, no.67

February — Andrew Morison, no.22

March — Janette Howieson, no.39

April — Mike Paterson, no.27

May — Phil Hamilton, no.18

June — Harry Fotheringham, no.41

July — Louise Burnet, no.33

August — Judy Boyd, no.65

September — Janette Green, no.9

October — Jill Fulton, no.11

November — Judy Boyd, no.65

December — £40, Jill Fulton, no.11; £20, Elspeth MacLean, no.69; £10, Louise Burnet, no.34

The 2016 winners are:

January — Campbell Fullarton, no.12

February — Judy Boyd, no.60

March — Patricia Pryde, no.39

April — Jill Fulton, no.6

May — Louise Burnet, no.21

June — Louise Burnet, no.24

July — Mike Bews, no.48

August — Alan Mitchelson, no.30

September — Bobby Kerr, no.35

October — Bobby Kerr, no.35

November — Fiona MacLaren, no.34

December — £40, Lizanne Newton, no.15; £20, Sharon MacKay, no.53; £10, Louise Burnet, no.22.

The 2017 winners are:

January — Clive Charters, no.16

February — Judy Boyd, no.56

March — Fiona MacLaren, no.64

April — Maurice McIntyre, no.10

May — Louise Burnet, no.40

June — Maurice McIntyre, no.9

July — Louise Burnet, no.37

August — Val Pace, no.14

September — Judy Boyd, no.54

October — Jill Fulton, no.19

November — Jocky Cairns, no.34

December — £40, Phil Hamilton, no.31; £20, Trish Pryde, no.36; £10, Alan Mitchelson, no.46.

The 2018 winners are:

January — Ethnee Ashton, no.57

February — Phyllis Fullarton, no.33

March — Judy Boyd, no.45

April — Mike Paterson, no.21

May — Maurice McIntyre, no.4

June — Patricia Pryde, no.38

July — Philip Hamilton, no.13

August — Mike Paterson, no.17

September — Louise Burnet, no.6

October — Alan Mitchelson, no.50

November — Bobby Kerr, no.63

December — £40, Iain MacLaren, no.22; £20, Alan Mitchelson, no.51; £10, Maurice McIntyre, no.3.

The 2019 winners are:

January — Jill Fulton, no.37

February — Mike Paterson, no.17

March — Clive Charters, no.55

April — Louise Burnet, no.30

May — Allan Naismith, no.25

June — Jill Fulton, no.38

July — Louise Burnet, no.27

August — Donald Fullarton, no.4

September — Bobby Kerr, no.2

October — Elspeth MacLean, no.21

November — Judy Boyd, no.45

A HISTORY of the club was compiled by former secretary Margaret Robinson after the West of Scotland Lawn Tennis Association requesting details for inclusion in a book published as part of the celebrations for the WSLTA’s centenary in 2004.

It was initially published as an illustrated booklet, and this is an edited version prepared for the club website . . .

HELENSBURGH Lawn Tennis Club was established in 1884 at Suffolk Street on a field presented by ex-Provost Breingan. In 1911, this property was first conveyed from the Trustees of the late Alexander Breingan to Hew Tennent Young and Peter Lindsay Miller in their capacity as president and vice-president of HLTC.

In 1921 the office of honorary president was first filled by Mr Hew T.Young, in appreciation of Mr Young’s services over the years 1884 to 1921.

The constitution and election of officebearers were first recorded in the minutes in 1923.

At HLTC’s formation, funding was raised in the form of debenture shares for founder members. The first recorded membership rates can be seen in the 1924 AGM letter to members and are: 55 Gentlemen @ £2, 112 Ladies @ £1.5/-, 21 Juniors @ 15/-, and 12 Non-playing @10/6.  It is worth noting that there were twice as many lady members.

Membership was fairly static until after the Second World War. The years from 1939-45 saw many HLTC members absent on active service during World War Two. At a committee meeting on 13th April 1943 it was recorded that there were only 10 gentlemen paying full subscription. Consequently the committee decided not to open the courts for play that year but to continue on a care and maintenance basis only.

1947 saw HLTC’s lowest membership numbers to date: 15 Gentlemen, 30 Ladies, 7 Junior, and 10 Non-playing. Again ladies outnumbered the men.

At a committee meeting on 9th March 1947, liquidation issues were discussed. It was decided that a minimum membership of 90 was necessary for the club to be financially viable. However HLTC, like many other organisations at the time, was able to overcome the difficulties and continued to thrive.

In 1953 membership status had increased to: 29 Gentlemen, 55 Ladies, 75 Juniors (with a waiting list), and 19 Non-playing.

Until the more recent decades, lady members most definitely had the advantage over the gentlemen. The lady members, of whom there were usually double the number of gentlemen members, reaped the huge financial benefit of a lesser annual membership subscription than gentlemen.

In addition many ladies in the mid-1900’s were not in full time employment and consequently were able to take advantage of the courts throughout week days, representing double value for money.

It was not until 1954 that equal rates of subscriptions for both Gentlemen and Ladies was proposed. This was finally implemented in 1958. Ten years later a family membership was introduced.

Today membership numbers have now more than doubled from the initial record of 200 to some 500 members, and today a senior member pays an annual subscription of £151.

Held in the archives are two immaculately tabulated account books. The first book records accounts from 1913-1923 and the second book accounts from 1924-1945.

Membership income has adequately financed the day-to-day operating of the club and has, for many years now, maintained a depreciation account. However membership income does not stretch to provide the additional funding necessary for development.

The funding of large projects such as replacement clubhouses, new playing surfaces and floodlighting have all been major projects, and the sourcing of additional funds to execute development projects throughout the years has always been time consuming for the finance and development officebearers of the time.

The first documented major project for HLTC involving finance and development was a replacement clubhouse, minuted initially in 1966. Sports grants and awards were difficult to source in these times. Application was made to the local Education Department. Part funding for this project was granted by the Education Department, leaving the club to source the outstanding balance of £2,100, which was a very substantial sum then.

The solution to this problem arrived in the form of an anonymous benefactor who donated an interest free loan to the club, to be paid back in equal instalments over a ten-year period. Development commenced and the new clubhouse was opened on 2nd May, 1969, by Mrs Winifred Wedgwood.

The AGM minutes of 1970 record a vote of thanks to Mrs Gillian Thomson (right), an active member, who was then leaving the area. It was not until some years later, and only after persuasion from then club secretary Tony Wedgwood, that Mrs Thomson agreed to be named as the anonymous benefactor. Mrs Thomson was made an honorary member and continued to take an interest in the club from her home in Kelso.

Thanks were of course also due to many members for the additional fund raising events undertaken during this time, including jumble sales, bring and buy, book sales and home garden events. Fay Lenore, a local actress and celebrity, opened a fund raising fete in 1969/70. The completion of the new clubhouse in 1969 allowed HLTC members to settle down to a period of consolidated play.

The Scottish Sports Council assisted with the financing of a practice wall facility in 1973 and also supplied a grant for the funding of floodlighting the top two courts in 1976.

However after a fairly quiet two decades for development, the beginning of the 1990s saw a decade of frenetic development.

The professionalism of the officebearers at the time contributed greatly to funding applications being successful. The Scottish Sports Council, the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, Lawn Tennis Association loans, and the National Lottery all made major contributions to the latest developments, and Graeme Simmers, chairman of the Scottish Sports Council, opening the club’s new all weather courts in August 1992.

In April 1996, Martin Bowie, project officer of the Lottery Sports Fund, presented a cheque to HLTC. The club had matched the Lottery Sports funding which allowed the newest and biggest ever development to proceed. This development was the erection of the club’s present two storey brick-built clubhouse and the covering of the three remaining courts with artificial grass.

Then, in November 2000, honorary president Donald Fullarton officially switched on the lights after the completion of international standard floodlighting for all seven all weather courts.

Originally facilities for members were tennis courts available for play during daylight hours from Monday till Saturday, on a playing surface of lawn and only from April till September each year. The transition to the present day facilities of seven all weather floodlit courts permits members play from 9am until 10pm, seven days a week, all year round.

Minutes of 1925 record the planting of the privet hedge to replace the perimeter trees.

In 1961 the installation of electric lighting in the then clubhouse was discussed and implemented, replacing elegant old gas fittings.

Around 1990 there were two tarmac floodlit courts at the top and four blaes courts at the bottom. The single-storey timber-built clubhouse, opened in 1969, stood adjacent to Suffolk Street. A house and grounds on the north east corner of the block was at one stage offered for sale to the club, but was too expensive for the club to buy at the time and was replaced by maisonettes.

With the courts today all artificial grass, no longer necessary is the ordering and delivery of blaes, the rolling of the courts, and the clearing and maintaining of lines. It is of interest that minutes of 1951 record that £70.4/- was raised from the sale of scrap lead which was previously the old lead lines — later replaced by plastic lines.

However, artificial grass also requires maintenance with the regular laying down of sand and the sweeping of the courts. Net maintenance and replacement is always ongoing.

Ground and clubhouse security has been a continual problem for the club since its formation. The present brick-built clubhouse successfully operates a swipe card entry system. A CCTV system has been operational in the clubhouse during the last few years. To date this has been the only system which has proved a successful deterrent to vandals.

Coaching

In earlier years coaching at the club was undertaken on a voluntary basis by senior members. However over the years the demand for coaching has dramatically increased.

Affiliation of individual tennis clubs to the larger West of Scotland Lawn Tennis Association has always been a contentious issue to many club members, both in previous years and in the present, but it is important for coaching, club development and other reasons. A number of club members have served on the West committee over the years.

Minutes of 1925 record affiliation being turned down, and it was not until 1929 that affiliation was finally agreed. Membership lapsed during the Second World War and resumed in 1948. The benefit of affiliation to individual clubs is immense, not only in coaching issues but also in matters of finance and development.

In 1927, the voluntary services of Captain N.L.Bright were proposed to provide “instruction“. Captain Bright was not an authorised coach. The next year saw the engaging of Mr Robin Welsh, of 1 Western Terrace, Edinburgh, to provide instruction on Mondays and Tuesdays. The charge was 7 shilling and 6 pence per one hour lesson.

The logistics of coordinating the present coaching programmes are horrendous, and HLTC can be justly proud of its present tennis and coaching structure which resulted in the club receiving both the West of Scotland and Scottish LTA Tennis Club of the Year awards in 2003-4, largely thanks to the efforts of head coach Steve Losh and coaching convener Ann Morison.

President Elspeth MacLean and Steve are pictured (right) receiving the Scottish award from the SLTA president at a ceremony in Edinburgh.

The clubhouse displays a coaching board with named photographs of Ann and Steve and their team of qualified coaches. It also hosts two television sets and video facilities, and this allows training videos to be shown.

Today there are coaching programmes for all levels of club play, including team training, senior intermediates, adult beginners, juniors coaching and performance squads, summer schools Mini Tennis — for which the club built two special courts in the summer of 2004. Coaching is also available to non-members at a slightly increased rate, and coaches also undertake individual coaching on demand.

Social

The ultimate social event in the history of HLTC has to be the Centenary Week celebrations of June 1984. A full programme of events took place throughout a wonderful week of weather, many of them in a marquee erected in the grounds on the site of the present clubhouse.

A finals day barbecue and prizegiving was held on the Saturday, when the trophies and prizes were presented by the late Mrs Winifred McKenzie (left), who had been a very enthusiastic HLTC player.

On this occasion, she presented the club with a small silver salver which she herself had won during the golden jubilee celebrations in 1934. It was subsequently agreed that this salver was to be presented on an annual basis to a member whom the executive committee agreed had delivered exceptional service to the club, either on or off the courts.

A photograph album and memorabilia from this centenary week, including a very amateur video of the main events shot by Donald Fullarton and Helensburgh Advertiser photographer and club member Stuart Cunningham, is held in the club archives.

Finals day barbecues and annual dances have often featured in the history of the club, but demand for additional social events varies from year to year and tends to be cyclical. Ladies lunches have proved popular over the years. These provide enjoyable social tennis, combined with good food and conversation.

Tennis evenings followed by supper, sometimes with gastronomic themes, have proved to be the most popularly supported social events in recent years.

Past minutes over the years record numerous discussions on introducing an alcohol licence for the clubhouse, and this issue has been raised again in recent years. However, after many attempts to encourage members to socialise after play, it was proved there was not a demand for a permanent licence. The club continues to apply for special alcohol licences to support major social events.

Introduced for the first time in 2003 was a week’s group tennis holiday in Mallorca organised by Head Coach Steve Losh.

Juniors

The club, throughout its history, has always maintained a healthy junior membership, encouraging and promoting tennis coaching and tournaments.
Senior volunteer members undertook the junior coaching in the earlier years. More recently, Short Tennis classes for juniors were begun in the now-closed Clyde Community Education Centre in East Clyde Street, Helensburgh, by the late Will and Margaret Steuart-Corry (right).

Mini-Tennis is an initiative promoted nationally by the Lawn Tennis Association, and HLTC was one of only seven clubs in the West of Scotland initially accredited as a Mini-Tennis Club.

This scheme operates a simple, structured and flexible curriculum, and inspires juniors to develop a whole range of tennis skills. In the summer of 2004 two Mini-Tennis courts were built at the club, east of the clubhouse and north of courts 1-5, and a commemorative plaque was erected on these courts in memory of Mr and Mrs Steuart-Corry for their contribution over many years in promoting junior tennis.

Championships

Present day championship events are much greater in number than in earlier years. The club now has a championship convener and committee to organise and coordinate all events.

Sunday tennis was first discussed at committee in 1925 but was not implemented until 1937, from 2-6pm. In recent years many social tournaments, some including lunch, have been played on Sundays.

Ladies leagues were created for the first time in 1951/52. Today the club has sufficient members interested in competitive play to operate a number of adult and veteran teams as well as junior teams in the West of Scotland Leagues.

Communication

It is essential that members are kept informed of club activities. One of the earliest tennis reports is recorded in the Helensburgh and Gareloch Times of 22nd July, 1885, and outlines a tennis match played at Helensburgh against Dumbarton. Since then, reports have been submitted to all the local papers and in the past year to local news websites.

Over the years newsletters have been used to provide information to members, and today members receive news updates and a periodic newsletter by email. A club website was introduced several years ago, and in May 2009 and January 2018 had major upgrades and redesigns.

HELENSBURGH Tennis Club is run by the Officebearers and Executive Committee in accordance with the Club Constitution, which can be amended at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.

The clauses of the Constitution are as follows . . .

NAME

1. The Club shall be called “The Helensburgh Lawn Tennis Club”.

2. The membership shall consist of Honorary, Life, Senior, Intermediate, Junior, Mini, and Non-Playing Members. The number of Members in each category shall be left to the discretion of the Executive Committee.

3. (a) All candidates shall be nominated for the class of Membership desired by two Life or Senior Members of the Club, and the names, designation, and addresses of the candidates and their nominators shall be intimated to the Membership Secretary before the Annual General Meeting, or, if after the Annual General Meeting, may be intimated to the Membership Secretary at any time. Candidates for Intermediate, Junior and Mini Membership shall give the date of their birth.
(b) No person shall be eligible for Mini Membership until they have reached the age of four years, and for Junior Membership until they have reached the age of eight years. Intermediate Membership shall commence at the age of 16 years, the Executive Committee having the power to lower this age on special application. The maximum age of an Intermediate Member shall be 20 years. Ages for the purpose of this Clause shall be determined as at 31st December prior to the playing season.
(c) Husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters of existing Senior members shall have priority of admission in all classes.

4. The admission of all members shall be subject to a ballot of the Executive Committee. To secure election, candidates for Membership must receive, on a ballot, the votes of a majority of the Executive Committee present at the meeting when the ballot takes place. The Executive Committee shall not be bound to give any reason for any rejection.

5. Members on admission shall receive intimation of their election, shall be furnished with a copy of the Constitution and Bye-Laws, and shall receive intimation of the amount of entry fee and subscription payable. Failing payment within 14 days from such intimation, the election shall be null and void, unless such failure shall, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, be inadvertent. On payment of entry fee and subscription, a Member thereby submits himself or herself to the Constitution and Bye-Laws of the Club, both as to restrictions enjoined and penalties imposed, and on these conditions alone is entitled to the advantages and privileges of the Club. No new member shall be absolved from the effect of the Constitution and Bye-Laws on any allegation of not having received a copy of them.

6. On admission, an entry fee of an amount determined by the Executive Committee shall be payable by Senior Members. This rule does not apply to Intermediate Members on election to Senior Membership.

7. Annual Subscriptions as fixed by the Executive Committee shall be payable by all members.

8. All Subscriptions shall be payable in advance, shall become due on the date of the Annual General Meeting, and must be paid not later than 31st March. If a Member joins the Club after lst October, he/she shall be liable to pay the Entry Fee, plus 50% of the current subscription. Intimation of Subscriptions falling due shall be given annually in the Notice calling the Annual General Meeting.

9. Any Member who fails to pay his/her Subscription by 30th April in each year shall be held in arrear, and, until it is paid, shall not be entitled to take part in any Club play or activities or to vote at any meeting of Members of the Club. Any Member whose Subscription is still unpaid at 15th May shall, in the option of the Executive Committee, cease to be a Member, but he/she shall notwithstanding be liable for all past contributions, including the subscription for the current year, and his/her name shall be posted in the Club House.

10. Senior Members, who have been Members for at least one year, may, on approval of the Executive Committee, compound for their Annual Subscription and become Life Members by a single payment of a sum equivalent to twelve times the Annual Subscription.

11. All Playing Members shall be eligible to represent the Club in League and Cup matches.

12. A Playing Member who through illness, temporary absence or other reasons wishes to discontinue as a Playing Member may, before the Annual General Meeting, apply in writing to become a Non-Playing Member, paying as such a reduced Annual Subscription as may be determined by the Executive Committee. Should a Non-Playing Member wish to play for a short period, he or she may do so for one period not exceeding 14 days in any one season without further payment, provided prior notice is given to the Secretary. Such Non-Playing Members may resume full Membership at any time upon paying the balance of the full Annual Subscription of a Playing Member.

13. Temporary Members may be admitted by the Executive Committee on the recommendation of two Senior Members. They shall have no vote and may only participate in Club events by permission of the Executive Committee. Applications must be made in writing to the Membership Secretary. The Subscriptions shall be determined by the Executive Committee per day, per week, per month for each class of Member, and the rates displayed on the Club Notice Board. Subscriptions must be paid prior to making use of the Courts.

14. A Member absent from Scotland during the whole of the year shall not be liable for the Annual Subscription for that year, provided that before the Annual General Meeting he or she intimates the intended absence, IN WRITING, to the Secretary, who shall place his or her name on the Absent Members’ List.

15. Members wishing to withdraw from the Club must so intimate to the Secretary IN WRITING, before the date of the Annual General Meeting, otherwise they shall be liable for the Subscriptions for the following year. Members withdrawing from the Club, or who from any cause or in any way cease to be Members, shall have no claim upon the funds or property of the Club, or for repayment of any entry fee or Annual Subscription.

16. Any Member who has resigned from the Club shall only be re-admitted on repayment of entry fee.

17. Members may introduce visitors but such visitors MUST have their names entered in the Visitors’ List by the Member introducing BEFORE PLAYING, or in the absence of the Member introducing, a letter must be sent to the Secretary intimating that the Member wishes to introduce a visitor (giving name) on a given date. Junior visitors may only play during the hours and on the Courts allotted to Juniors. No Member may introduce more than three visitors at the same time. Charges for visitors shall be determined by the Executive Committee and the rates displayed on the Club Notice Board; payment will be required at the start of the following season.

18. The Officebearers shall consist of the Honorary President, President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, shall hold office for one year, and shall be eligible for re-election. Only one of the said Offices may be held by the same person.

19. The affairs of the Club shall be managed by the Executive Committee, which shall consist of the Officebearers, other than the Honorary President, and of the Conveners of Finance, Building and Grounds, Coaching, Social Events/Catering, Development, Junior, Communications and Tennis, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, shall hold office for one year, and shall be eligible for re-election; five to form a quorum. Only one of the said Convenerships may be held by the same person.

20. One month prior to the date set for the Annual General Meeting the Executive Committee shall propose candidates for election as President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Conveners of Finance, Building and Grounds, Coaching, Social Events/Catering, Development, Junior, Communications, and Tennis, their agreement to serve having been first obtained, and shall invite any other nominations by written intimation on the Club Notice Board, such nominations to be signed by at least two Members (as proposer and seconder respectively), having first obtained the candidate’s agreement to serve, and lodged with the Secretary within 7 days. The names of all validly nominated candidates and their proposer and seconder shall be published in the Notice calling the Annual General Meeting. In the event of an election, the Executive Committee will give consideration to permitting votes by proxy in accordance with Clause 28 of this Constitution.

21. The Executive Committee shall, subject to the control of a General Meeting, exercised in terms of this Clause, be vested with the entire management of the Club, and shall have all powers necessary for the full and efficient conduct of its affairs, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, correct books and accounts, showing the financial affairs and intromissions of the Club.

The powers conferred on the Executive Committee by this Clause shall include the following special powers:— To fill vacancies that may occur in their number or amongst the Officebearers between Annual Meetings; to prescribe the duties of Officebearers, to appoint Sub-Committees from their own number or from the Members, or from both, to assist in the management; to prescribe the duties, name Conveners and fix quorums of such Sub-Committees; to fix dates, places, and manner of calling meetings of Members and Sub-Committees; to fix numbers of members of Sub-Committees; to admit Temporary Members; to nominate for election at the Annual General Meeting Honorary Vice-Presidents and Honorary Members for the succeeding year; to fix when the Courts each year shall open and close and the days and hours when play shall be allowed; to fix terms on which Intermediate, Junior Members, and/or visitors may use the Courts and Club premises; and to make all Bye-Laws which, in their opinion, may be necessary for regulating and administration and management of the Club. All Bye-Laws made and actions taken by the Executive Committee shall be binding on every Member until set aside or altered by a General Meeting of Members. Bye-Laws shall be sufficiently intimated to Members on the Club Notice Board.

22. The Secretary shall keep (a) a Roll of Members, and (b) a Minute Book in which shall be entered the Minutes of all meetings, including meetings of the Executive Committee and any Sub-Committees. The Secretary shall act as the official correspondent of the Club.

23. The Treasurer shall present to the Annual General Meeting a Statement of accounts for the preceding Financial year, which Accounts, before presentation to the meeting, must be examined by two Members of the Club or by a qualified Accountant appointed by the Executive Committee to examine same. All monies received by the Treasurer shall be lodged in the name of the Club in the Bank fixed by the Executive Committee and all cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer. It shall not be competent for the Treasurer or any other member delegated by the Treasurer to retain in hand a sum exceeding £250 at any one time. The Club shall have power to sue for Entry Fees and overdue Subscriptions.

24. The financial year shall run from lst January to 31st December.

25. The Annual General Meeting shall be held no later than 31st March in each year. At this meeting a Report by the Executive Committee and a Financial Statement for the preceding year, duly examined, shall be submitted, and any other competent business transacted. Notice of this meeting and a copy of the Financial Statement, as examined, shall be sent to each Member of the Club at least 14 days previous thereto.

26. Special General Meetings of Members may be called by direction of the President or on the requisition of four Members of the Executive Committee or of 25 Members of the Club. At least 14 days’ notice of any such meeting shall be given. At all meetings of Members 20 shall form a quorum.

27. At Meetings of the Club the President, and at Meetings of the Sub-Committees the Convener, shall act as Chairman, whom failing, any Member appointed by the Meeting.

28. The Honorary President, Honorary Vice-Presidents, Honorary Members, Life Members, Senior Members and any other Member elected to serve on the Executive Committee only shall have a voice in the management of the Club, and each Member shall have one vote. If the Executive Committee be of the opinion that it is desirable on any important question to allow votes by proxy at any Meetings of the Club, they shall give intimation accordingly in the Notice of the Meeting, and in such case any Honorary, Life or Senior Member, or any other Member elected to serve on the Executive Committee, may give a proxy in writing to another Member of the Club to act in his/her stead at that Meeting.

29. At all meetings, subject to the provisions of Clauses 32 and 33, the voice of the majority shall prevail, the Chairman having, in addition to his/her deliberative vote, a casting vote in cases of equality.

30. The Trustees in whose names shall be vested the Club House and other property, heritable and movable, of the Club are:— The President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and their successors in office. The Trustees shall have no power to borrow money on the security of the Club property without the consent of the Members present at a General or Special General Meeting.

31. The Property, Effects and Monies of the Club shall belong to the Life and Senior Members during Membership equally; but the right and interest of every member shall be personal and limited to himself or herself, and shall expire with his or her Membership, and shall not be assignable or arrestable or pass to heirs or executors.

32. The Executive Committee shall have power, on a vote by ballot, by a majority of two-thirds of those voting, to suspend or expel any Member whose conduct appears to endanger the character, interest, or good order of the Club, or who acts in defiance of its Bye-Laws. Such offending Member may, if he or she desires, state his or her case to the Meeting before a vote is taken. At least 14 days before calling such Meeting the Secretary shall give notice in writing to the offending member to give him or her an opportunity of withdrawing from the Club.

33. The foregoing Clauses shall form the Constitution and shall not be altered unless by a majority of two-thirds personally or by proxy in writing at a meeting of Members specially called to revise the Constitution.

34. The Committee acknowledges discrimination exists in society and will ensure membership is open to all irrespective of gender, race, colour, creed, disability, religious belief or any other form of discrimination.

35. If Helensburgh Lawn Tennis Club is ever to be wound up, after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities no surplus funds will be distributed to the Members but shall be transferred to some other non-profit making organisation or charitable body with either objects similar to the club or for the benefit of the community.