Published: March 17, 2008
In photos: MP becomes patron of Burnham tennis academy at jazz night

Burnham-On-Sea MP David Heathcoat-Amory has become the patron of the Nathan Edwards Tennis Academy, it was announced during a fundraising jazz night held in the town at the weekend.

The MP visited the Avenue Tennis Club to hear about the work of the new group and meet members of the group, including Chairman Tom Ashton and club coach James Tucket, pictured right.

Almost £1,000 was raised during the open day and jazz evening, with the jazz night earning £450 for the academy, plus Burnham Lions Club handing over a cheque for £500.

The Bob Reynolds New Society Jazz Band entertained over 70 people at the Avenue Tennis Club, with the event successfully organised by Sally Edwards and Shelley Bamsey.

Bob Reynolds - who has known Sally for 20 years through his work for the National Autistic Society - offered the band's services free of charge and Bob remembers Nathan as a baby.

After a delayed start due to the appalling weather on Saturday evening, the guests arrived and the band struck up its own brand of lively foot-tapping traditional jazz. A splendid buffet was prepared by Liz Bailey. A raffle followed with some great prizes including a bottle of malt whiskey, bottles of wine, luxury Easter eggs, T-shirts and soft toys.

Many of the 70 guests commented how much they had enjoyed the band and danced their socks off. Clive and Kay Haines manned the club's bar for the final time as they will be handing it over to someone else shortly.

Tom Ashton made a short speech at the end of the evening, thanking the guests and the band for their support of the tennis academy, to support and develop future talent.

The Open Day also received a visit from the MP David Heathcoat-Amory who met with Tom Ashton, Sally Edwards and James Tuckett to find out more about the club and the new academy, after which he agreed to become patron of the academy and support its aim to seek out and support future tennis talent.