Chief Executive’s Message
Dear Member,
Annual General Meeting – 23rd May 2024
Just a reminder that the Club AGM will take place on Thursday 23rd May at 7.30pm. Voting for four Directors to be elected to the Board at the AGM is open now and closes on Wednesday 15th May at 5pm. Voting forms and candidate biographies have been sent to all shareholders via post or electronically or there are forms at Reception to complete if required.
Special Resolutions 4 and 5
We have had a few queries on the purpose of Special Resolutions 4 and 5 on the Notice of Annual General Meeting. The explanation for each resolution is as below as part of the Chair’s letter to shareholders on 26th April:
‘I would like to bring to your attention one Special Resolution (number 5 on the notice of AGM) regarding the issue of our Company (RCML) Shares. We need to issue further shares to the Trust for transfer to new Members joining the Club or when a Member reaches the age of 35 or 40 and needs to buy shares. The Articles of Association state there is an authorised share capital of £6m divided between 24,000 shares at nominal value of £250 each. There are currently 13,249 shares issued so there is plenty of scope to issue further shares, but for reasons related to the Companies Acts the Directors of the Company require authorisation to do so.
The proposed resolution would allow Directors to issue new shares to the Trust to distribute as currently. It is a straightforward but important procedure to be approved by shareholders, and passing the resolution now would mean that the Directors do not in the future need to come back to the shareholders for authorisation to allot additional tranches of shares to the Trust. Any shares registered in the name of the Trustees are disenfranchised and do not have any voting rights.
Just for clarity this special resolution is proposed solely with a view to the issue of new shares to the Trust to be transferred as part of joining the club, or when a Member reaches the age of 35 or 40. There are no plans for any capital raising as part of the Masterplan 2035.
There are also proposed:
◊ an amendment to article 7, to insert the words ‘and Trustees’, to ensure that (in line with the resolution referenced above) there is no ambiguity around the power of the directors to issue shares to the Trustees for the purpose of onward transfer to members; and
◊ the deletion of article 6, as this refers to rules in relation to the giving of financial assistance by the Company for the acquisition of its own shares and this regime no longer exists under the updated Companies Act.
Social Scene and Bistro
With the arrival of some warm sunshine comes the summer Social Scene events where we venture into the gardens for wine tasting with the Wine Committee, a Pop Up Cinema showing of La La Land, gin masterclass with Pinkster and of course, the big one … Family Day on Saturday 15th June. Bring your friends and all the family to enjoy this special day at the Club with activities and entertainment for children of all ages with music, delicious Lebanese buffet, and refreshments. Click here for the Social Scene
We have a new menu for May in the Bistro. Tonight features the first of our Thursday and Friday-night Bistro evenings serving delicious South East Asian food (until 31st May). Treat yourself to a special monthly cocktail, match a wine from our list or bring your own wine to Bistro evenings – £10 corkage fee for wine | £15 corkage fee for fizz per bottle. Book your table at Reception or give the team a call on 020 8480 4200. Last orders at 9pm.
Squash Finals Night- Friday 10th May
This Friday, all Members are welcome to come along to watch the best players in the Club vie for the Club Champion title in the Squash Finals Night, followed by a delicious Asian-themed buffet and drinks (£15 per person), plus prizegiving. Click here for the lineup, to sign up and to view the buffet menu.
May half term Junior and Teen Camps
May half term is on the horizon so make sure your juniors and teens are booked into our holiday Sports Camps – a great opportunity for them to join in for a range of sports with professional coaches to learn skills, build fitness and make new friends. Find out more here
Inter Services Golf Day – Monday 10th June
Last year’s Salute the Services Charity Golf Day saw Roehampton Club golfers raise an impressive £6,300 for the services charity PTSD Resolution. This year’s Inter Services Golf event will offer the opportunity to play some spirited golf and support another services charity – the Air League and 617 Squadron RAF – The Dambusters! Join Air League and 617 Squadron representatives at the Club to play golf and hear short presentations during the post-golf meal. Click here for all the information
Congratulations
The first LTA Youth Tennis Leaders course (for 11–18-year-olds) was run at Roehampton Club on 14th April – a course that is recognised and accredited by SLQ Sports Leaders. Congratulations to the fifteen Roehampton Club Junior Members who took part and attained their certificate. The course enables those who take part to gain knowledge, understanding and skills with a particular focus on leadership skills and competencies like communication, self-belief, teamwork, self-management, and problem solving embedded throughout. Find out more
Member Guests
To encourage Members to invite a guest to experience our well-presented golf course after work or at a quieter time we have reduced the twilight guest rate midweek and at weekends to £25 and £32 respectively in response to requests from the Young Member Forum.
Please ensure that you sign in your guest at the Security Gatehouse and pay the appropriate fee for any sport at Reception. For safeguarding and health and safety purposes we do need a record of which guests are using the Club with Members at any time.
Support for our local community
Roehampton Ward Councillor Jenny Yates is a governor at the Alton Primary School on the Alton Estate and they’re looking to recruit new governors to strengthen the local governing body. Jenny has requested that we circulate this to the Roehampton Club community in case anyone may be interested in applying. Click here for more information.
Best wishes,
Marc