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Update 2008 No. 5

 

Published 3rd June 2008

 

Dear Summerway Friend,

For ease of reference, future updates will be numbered.  Campaign progress, apart from the addition of many new Watchers, has been a bit slow for the last 2-3 months as family from New Zealand have been visiting the UK.  Jenny and I have given this top priority.  I am now able to roll up my sleeves again on behalf of Summerway.

There is no change in Exeter City Council’s attitude, which seems to be that Summerway Tennis is irrelevant history.  In the Council’s eyes, we plainly don’t exist. Those concerned may be happy with their schemes and the results of their bullying, but we care about people.  ECC has set us an interesting challenge.

New Watchers will receive this update in place of the last two.  These dealt with recruiting Watchers (*link1), the posting of our second video on YouTube (*link2), and the launch of the Ivory Tower website shortly before the recent local elections (*link3).

•  John Denham visits Exeter.  The Rt Hon John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (a cabinet minister), visited Summerway Park in support of the Labour Party.  The choice of venue was intriguing, so I emailed him to make a point or two. The email is posted on our campaign website (*link4), as are details of other recipients (*link5).

•  Val Dixon loses her seat on the Council.  I feel sympathy for the disappointments of others, and with Val in this case, but cannot help also feeling that her loss was deserved.  Her warmth towards the local community never seems to have extended towards the Club, which she should have represented (*link6).

•  Fun Day in Summerway Park.  The Fun Day on 24th May, announced initially in the Labour newsletter for the Pinhoe Ward, turned out to be the launch of a Community Association for the Summerway Estate.  This welcome development was well attended and well sponsored, including £500 granted by the City Council I was informed.  If only ECC had supported the Club as well as the Park ... !

•  Val’s Slur is groundless.  Amongst the many conversations in my five hours at the Fun Day, I had opportunity for a friendly talk with Val Dixon.  We were in complete agreement about the needs of local community and share a heartfelt wish for its well-being, but I marvelled at Val’s misapprehensions about the Club.  Sadly, she never tried to speak with us, so hasn’t the foggiest understanding.  Val told me the name of the girl we were supposed to have turned down (*link7).  I can categorically state that no one of that surname has applied for membership, and there were only two girls with the same Christian name amongst the 358 names on the Waiting List database, neither of which could have been the girl to which Val referred.  There has clearly been a misunderstanding, not necessarily Val’s fault, but the ‘facts’ of her slur are most definitely fiction.

•  Summer Sessions.  We can’t hold proper sessions now, of course, but we have started meeting as members of the public from 6.45pm on Wednesdays at Heavitree. The rain earlier in the day left the Heavitree courts puddled last week, but mainly free of other players.  Dave, Jacob and Rose helped me look after the children, and we enjoyed playing Exercide (15 Points).  Do join us if you’re free at this time on Wednesdays.  We’d love to see you.

Last week, I sent an email to Ben Bradshaw MP and another to Hannah Foster.  Our campaign will continue imminently with another email to Ben, and these emails may eventually appear on the website.  Other plans are in various stages of preparation. Long Live Summerway Tennis!

All best wishes,

Jim.

* Links

1. Summerway Watchers:  http://www.jh.eclipse.co.uk/watchers.html

2. Summerway Nets Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh3TVrLQ3So

3. Ivory Tower Website:  www.ivorytowerexeter.co.uk

4. John Denham Email:  http://www.jh.eclipse.co.uk/denhamvis3d86s0q.html

5. John Email Header:  http://www.jh.eclipse.co.uk/p004415mk2ug.html

6. Val Dixon:  http://www.smwy.co.uk/ivorytower/cllrdixon.html

7. Val’s Slur Details:  http://www.jh.eclipse.co.uk/itpup02.html