Meet the Committee – Albany LTC

The Committee was elected at the AGM on 29th November 2017. If there is any matter you wish to be raised at the next Committee meeting, or if you are interested in becoming a Committee member, please contact the Chairman or any of the members below. Please click on a Committee member's photo below for more information, or to contact via e-mail. Albany's Committee is open, progressive, inclusive and made up of volunteers. In this last year, the committee has been comprised of nine members, who have met formally and informally to discuss and manage the club. It is a friendly group and there are certainly opportunities for more members to be involved - you would be welcomed aboard. The principles of the committee are:

to encourage people of all ages – juniors and adults – to play tennis, thereby increasing membership numbers
to shape and support the tennis programme, competitions, leagues and coaching
to ensure that the club is run within its resources, whilst developing for the future
to work on issues like fundraising, maintenance, social events and development

The two key strategies that the Committee have chosen to drive the club this year are:

Simplify
Modernise

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Bryan Sharp - President

Bryan has been instrumental in the running and development of the club for more than 50 years, having joined Albany in 1962. Over the years he has served as Club Captain, Chairman and also been the IOMLTA Rep on the Lawn tennis Association Council. A Qualified Part 1 coach, umpire and tournament referee, Bryan is still playing despite his age! Bryan is also Albany's Facilities Manager, so please report all maintenance issues to him. Phone: 467725

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David Bufton – Treasurer

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Pat Sharp – Secretary and PR

I joined Albany in 1962 when they played in Victoria Road and I served as Secretary of club's development committee. I qualified as a Part 1 coach, umpire & referee. Bryan and I were heavily involved in the development of Short Tennis, later called Mini Tennis, and I still love seeing the little ones learning tennis skills. I've had two spells as Secretary and now combine the role with PR too. Sadly, I am not able to play now but still enjoy being part of Albany.

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Jan Gaskill – Membership Secretary

I played tennis in my teens and started again after my children were born. I was a member of a club in the UK before coming to the Island in 2000. The first and best thing I did was join Albany. Everyone was so friendly that I felt at home immediately. I am the Ladies Morning representative as well as Membership Secretary and am proud to be a member of such a great facility.

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Clare Skelcher – Welfare/Child Protection Officer

I joined Albany Tennis Club in 2009 when my sons started in the 'minis' sessions. I decided to join the Tuesday social nights to learn how to play tennis myself so I could play with them. Eight years on and my children thrash me at a game of tennis, however I still enjoy playing social tennis twice a week and even some league matches!

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Jackie Russell – Club Captain

My son enjoyed playing tennis on Albany's Mini Tennis Programme, and I decided to join the club and get playing again, which I am loving. After joining the Committee in 2012 and getting involved in more league matches over the next couple of years, I took the role of Club Captain in early 2015. I co-ordinate all things to do with the Isle of Man leagues internally in Albany and between Albany and the IOM LTA. It's great to have more and more members showing an interest in league tennis, and in particular I hope lots more ladies will take the plunge and get into tennis as I did a few years ago - we could do with some more ladies playing in the leagues and you will love it!

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Ian Watson – Club Coach & Professional

A qualified Lawn Tennis Association Registered Professional Tennis Coach, I am Head coach at Albany Lawn Tennis Club responsible for running the tennis coaching programme. Before joining Albany in 2011, I held the post of 'LTA Tennis Development and Performance Manager' on the Isle of Man for 15 years and also in Derbyshire before that. I've been teaching tennis for 34 years professionally and taught GB national champions at both senior and junior level as well as many county champions. In my youth I was a top junior national player and played tennis at a professional level before deciding to teach tennis full time. I also played in the World Over 35 Championships ‘a few’ years ago and reached the last 16.

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