George Noble, Chairman of the Surbiton Croquet Club for many years, has instilled a remarkable ethos of volunteering and a relaxed atmosphere that has attracted a substantial membership, including many of the best players of both Association and Golf Croquet. Surbiton is now recognised as one of the leading clubs in the CA and its strength, under George's leadership, was evident in 2010 when it hosted the final round of the MacRobertson Shield to universal praise from the players, and this year when it hosted, not only the AC Open Championship, but a substantial part of the GC World Championship a fortnight later.
George Noble started playing croquet in the grounds of a “stately home” near Aberystwyth where he was employed as a farm adviser by the then Ministry of Agriculture. Brian Shorney was also a graduate of that croquet academy. In 1974 George secured a move to Loughborough to be near a croquet club and joined a group of young players at the Nottingham club, who were discovering the A class game. Then to London where he joined the administrative civil service and dealt with such matters as the Spanish fisheries war, where he spent much time before the Beak in the European Court of Justice, the Foot and Mouth crisis and, finally, animal welfare. George is happy to take some of the credit for the ban on dog tail docking.
In London, George joined the Roehampton club. He won the Mens Championship in 1979, played for the first time in the Opens the following year, and was subsequently invited to play in the President's Cup. He was also appointed an Examining Referee.
Feeling the need for a dedicated and more accessible croquet club in SW London he, along with a number of others including Ian Bond, Derek Caporn, Stephen Mulliner, Brian Whitehouse and Lionel Wharrad, persuaded the CA to take on a lease of a ground with space for seven lawns in Alexandra Park, Tolworth and formed the Surbiton Croquet Club in 1986. At the start there were no facilities, just a disused public convenience that served as an equipment shed ... which led to a somewhat rustic feel to the early tournaments. However, with grants from the Sports Council, the Croquet Association and Fullers Brewery, a wooden clubhouse was erected, complete with a cellar that George has managed to this day. He has also spent many hours in the kitchen, following the standard set by Hazel Kittermaster, with the result that the club's catering is awarded stars throughout the croquet world. His real pride and joy, however, has been the lawns, which he has converted over the years from rough, sloping, former tennis courts to some of the best in the country. Rather than keep his knowledge to himself, he has been very willing to share it through the CA's Lawn Advisory Group.
Despite being heavily involved at Surbiton, George has also given considerable assistance to the Hunstanton Club. He was its President from 1996 to 2006, during the period of the fire and building of its new pavilion.
George Noble’s contribution to these clubs, and through them to so many tournament players, has been immense and fully deserves the award of the Council Medal.