News & Events

We have issued frequent communications on the impact of Coronavirus on the Club and its members, culminating in the Club’s closure on the evening of 23rd March. The Club always based its advice on the principle of allowing members to play all sports for as long as permitted by the Government/LTA/England Squash whilst remaining safe. We are aware that not all members have agreed with our stance however the Club has trusted its members to make the right decision for themselves (and their family) and their personal safety which is, of course, paramount.

The current pandemic affects the livelihoods of many UK workers and businesses including our members and our Club. As the new membership year starts on 1 May 2020, it is timely to share with members our early assessment of the Club’s financial health.

We are keen that our community will be able to enjoy a vibrant and financially sound Racquets Club going forward. Whilst we will seek whatever Government financial support is available, the Club still has a sizeable cost base that subscription income needs to cover.

Because the Club’s financial year end on 31 December is different to our subscription year that runs to 30 April, our subscription income essentially covers 4 months of the previous subscription year and 8 months of the coming year. We maintain a level of reserves to cover the mismatch in timing (effectively the first 4 months of the year). Therefore, the Club’s ability to survive and remain vibrant and financially sound depends on the receipt of subscription income by the end of June.

The Club has already cancelled or postponed all discretionary expenditure and is looking at further ways to reduce its costs and its loan repayment obligations while we ride out this storm.

The Club does have funds in its sinking funds that are used to renew facilities e.g. for replacement playing surfaces and lights on tennis courts and recurring refurbishment of wall maintenance and floors in the Squash Courts. It’s a condition of the LTA that the club maintains a sinking fund. Without doing so the club would currently lose its accreditation which could invoke further penalties such as all loans being repayable.

It will not be possible to reschedule the AGM before a decision needs to be made about subscription rates for the coming subscription year. Your Committee, however, believes that the Club rules currently only allow the mandate to collect subscriptions at the rate set at the AGM in March 2019 (i.e. the same rate as last year) but not to implement any other changes to subs other than to vary the date we issue invoices.

The only real option for us today is to defer our subscription invoice until around mid-May when the full year subscriptions at the 2019/20 rate will be invoiced. The cash at the bank will allow us to pay our way until early June. Whilst it will be difficult to gauge the level of income we will receive at that point, this delay will allow us to have a much better sight of our costs over the remainder of the subscription year and also perhaps a clearer view on how long this emergency may last. By then we will have explored the best way forward, taking account of the continuing overheads, any government assistance and our loan repayments schedule.

We are certain that whatever action we take, it will not satisfy all the membership and we ask our loyal members to stick with us to maintain the viability of their sports club. However, we know there will be an economic hardship for some and we ask that you email Alistair on president@kdrc.info where we will evaluate what special measures can be put in place – something to help to allow you to get back onto the courts later this year.

Further, a number of colleagues will also be going through extremely challenging times as their incomes will be hugely diminished. We would hope that when this is all over that members will avail themselves of the coaching services of Mike Erskine and Kayne (together with Hazel and the team) for tennis and of Jon Tate for squash. Additionally, we have to remember that Ken our groundsman is on reduced hours, but is still about maintaining facilities for the eventual return to play. Actions are now in place to help look after these colleagues too.

I am certain the Club has never been rocked like this before (well not since WW2). This current emergency is going to prove extremely challenging for us all. But the aim of the Committee is to bring the Club and its family of members through to a fully functioning club in 2021.

President and Main Committee
27th March 2021