The Weald Racquets Club is also known as The Weald Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, but soon they will be opening new padel courts for members and the local community to enjoy. Deirdre Huston chatted with Manager Dan Zammit-Lewis and Club Chair Nick Reason to find out what’s changing at this long-established club.
Flanked by trees, the Weald Racquets Club is tucked away at the rear of South Bank. Some locals may not even realise it exists. However, it has long been a place of relaxation, coaching and competition for young and old who want to embrace racquet sports.
Nick Reason has been a member for 18 years, and he readily admits that the club has a special place in his life. He explains: “The club is a familiar, safe place for members, so no matter what you’ve got going on in your life, you can come here.”
The club is a ‘CASC’ or Community Amateur Sports Club so, whilst it is not a charity, it receives certain charitable benefits, such as no rates. It ploughs any profits back into the club and has an obligation to provide public access. The club is run by a committee of dedicated volunteers. Nick has previously acted as tennis chair and is now just finishing his second year as Chair. The committee makes strategic and tactical decisions. Nick recognises the dedication of other volunteers, such as the Padel Chair and the Squash Chair. He is also delighted that Dan has joined the team and says: “We are very lucky to have Dan as our manager.”
Dan Zammit-Lewis has played squash at an international level, representing Malta in competitions. ‘The name Zammit is like Smith in Malta,’ he says, speaking of his Maltese heritage. He explains: “My father was born in Libya, and then returned to Malta with his family before coming to live in Wimbledon.” Dan’s father was a keen squash player and a member of Wimbledon Racquets Club.
The Weald has also grown organically as a tennis club. Play can be very competitive, and Nick says: “The standard of play has improved.” Most people do one sport or the other, and Dan says: “The club offers different sports for different groups, but it also functions very well as a community.”
The club welcomes players of all levels and all ages, and, for both tennis and squash, there are hosted socials on a Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon, and organised social doubles on most weekday mornings. There is also a social Disability Tennis group that meets on Sundays.
There are now 660 members in all. Many members are from Hassocks, but people also come from Hurstpierpoint, Ditchling, Lewes, Brighton and Hove, giving the club an outward-looking feel. Four full-time tennis coaches are led by Bradley Bant. They offer a wide coaching programme, coach-led summer camps and outreach to local primary schools. The Weald’s fulltime squash coach, Ben Hutton, is also the South East & Sussex junior coach. Ben’s daughter, Jasmine, is currently ranked number 18 in the world.
To read the full article and learn more about the club and its members, pick up your copy of October’s Hassocks Life.