Ollie Toms Feb 2024 Remembrance Evening.

On the evening of Thursday, February 15th, 2024, members of the Stansted Tennis Club and their families gathered to honour the memory of their coach, Ollie Toms, who passed away on October 6th, 2023, at the age of 35.

The event’s primary purpose was to give the youngsters coached by Ollie at Stansted Tennis Club an opportunity to express their feelings about Ollie. Whether by talking about their emotions, feelings and memories of him or writing messages about him, which will go into a Remembrance Book.

The children rounded the evening off by playing some tennis, a game Ollie was so passionate about.

We also dedicated a beautiful Photinia Red Robin tree with a plaque to remember Ollie.

Ollie was an invaluable member of our club, and we recognise his significant contribution as a coach and want to continue his coaching legacy.

Part of the evening was to explain how we will do that in the future. We now have four volunteer coaches, Phil Dillon, Dan Warwick, James Thorp and Martyn Taplin, who will take over Ollie’s responsibilities. They will be assisted by several young assistants, including Alex & Ellen Rankin & Marissa Condie, who used to help Ollie.

We are hoping to resume the coaching activity after half term. Anyone who wants more information can contact us through our website.

Ollie’s parents, Glenis and Pete, his wife Natalie, and other family members attended the event. It was heartwarming to have them there, and they spoke to many of the people present on the evening. It meant a great deal to them.

Club member Louise Chalk organised the event and did an excellent job coordinating everything. Several committee members also assisted and provided refreshments.

It’s worth mentioning that Ollie was recently awarded the ‘2024 Essex Tennis Commendation Award’. The award ceremony will take place in April at Billericay Lawn Tennis Club, and Ollie’s parents and a club representative will accept it on his behalf. Stansted Tennis Club and his parents have also applied for the prestigious ‘LTA President’s Award’, and the announcement of the outcome is expected soon.

If you wish to read what Jamie Hogg said on the evening, you can download a transcript here.

Here is a link to The Bishop’s Stortford independent article: https://shorturl.at/iprwK

Here are a few photos from the evening. Click for full size.