CA Diplomas Awarded in 2009
Contents...
Paddy Booth - Burnham-on-Crouch Croquet Club
In 1989, Paddy Booth persuaded some 30 residents, none of whom had any knowledge of croquet, to form a croquet club. With Paddy as chairman and imbued with his enthusiasm, the club started playing Association Croquet on the cricket outfield of the local sports club. Paddy and his wife Thelma taught the rudiments of the game, and marked out and mowed the lawns. They successfully lobbied for grants, equipment, coaching and the use of a Portakabin as a clubroom. Now, after 20 years, Paddy (who is 95) has just stepped down from the committee.
Jack Davies - Sussex County Croquet Club
Jack switched his allegiance from playing bowls (where he played for his county and his country) to Croquet in 1998. He became an A-Class player in a very short time and then went on to coaching. He spends endless time and patience with club members, of all levels, in helping them with their problems, correcting their technique, showing them new strokes and playing points and games with tactical advice. Throughout the winter season, Jack runs a weekly alternate stroke morning. Jack is an invaluable club member when he reverts to his former life as a builder and plumber. During the winter, particularly in cold weather, Jack will visit the club daily, if necessary, to inspect the water and heating systems. He gives generously of his time to support the winter working-party both with his experience and his ability to acquire appropriate tools and equipment.
Phil Errington - Belsay Hall Croquet Club
Phil Errington joined Belsay Hall Croquet Club in 2000 and within two years had become its Chairman, where his people and organisational skills, combined with his technical abilities, advanced the development of the club. An AC coach and GC referee, Phil has sought to maintain high standards and has encouraged others to improve their game. He and his wife have ensured a friendly atmosphere at the club and, during the winter months, Phil organises indoor croquet sessions, which attract players from Belsay Hall and Tyneside clubs and potential new recruits to the game. Phil has contributed greatly to the club and his leadership knowledge, skill, dedication and inclusiveness are exemplary.
Pauline Gann - Kington Langley Croquet Club
A founder member of the Kington Langley Croquet Club, Pauline Gann has been the Club's Secretary for most of the past 25 years since its inception. Her efforts and enthusiasm in recruiting and coaching quickly brought in new members and she had great success in organising and running events to raise much-needed funds to get the Club off the ground. Pauline and her husband donated a silver plate for the first Club competition, which is still the most prestigious title to win. She was one of the first four to enter and play in League teams, as also one of the first to enter outside tournament which motivated others to do so. For many years, Pauline represented the Croquet Club on the village Playing Fields Association, and was instrumental in obtaining grants from them which helped to buy various items, including a larger Club Hut. She always ensured that members were involved in all village activities both social and fundraising.
Donald Gugan - Bristol Croquet Club
Donald Gugan was one of the contingent that sparked new life into the club more than 25 years ago. He became a life member, qualified as a Coach, and has continuously lead a beginners' course each Spring, editing and printing our own Beginners handbook. He would then monitor their progress with follow on lessons, through to overseeing the beginners' competition. With Rosemary (his wife) as our Secretary, Donald shied away from serving on the Committee, but this did not prevent him from having firm views on our shortcomings. Annually he would set out the courts each Spring, As a physicist, he advocated the merits of the Omega hoops, insisting on accurate setting of hoops, in accordance with the law. His thought-provoking papers to both the Committee and the CA did not endear him to everyone, but to the unbiased, his counsel was always worth weighing.
Duncan Hector - Letchworth Croquet Club
Duncan Hector is a founding member of the 21-year-old Letchworth Croquet Club. He has played at county, national and international level and led the club to victory in the 1989 Longman Club Team Cup. Duncan was chairman and is now president of the club. He was instrumental in negotiating the club's move to its present advantageous site and has given huge amounts of time to the Club, sourcing finance, producing and maintaining two croquet lawns, becoming an expert in lawn care as a result. Duncan has provided the Club with most of its machinery and his generosity enables the Club to hold its annual dinner and fundraising activities at his home. He has spent much time teaching croquet to members, and his wise counsel has led the club to enjoy an increasing membership and to be the friendly motivated club it is today.
Pam Hughes - Stony Stratford Croquet Club
Pam Hughes has made a major contribution to Stony Stratford Croquet Club over many years. Pam is over 90 years old, drives herself to Club several times a week and regularly plays in Club competitions and Club afternoons. She is a tough opponent and plays both Association and Golf to a good standard, often surprising players from opposing teams by her ability at her age. The Club is vibrant at the moment but in the darker times, Pam almost single-handedly kept the Club going and it is largely down to her that the current members owe the existence of the Club. Pam has kept a photographic history of the Club which have been incorporated into an album as part of the Club's archives. Of particular interest was her record of the removal of the old clubhouse, a disused railway carriage, which was transferred by low-loader to the Quainton railway for renovation and preservation.
Nick Hurst - Bear of Rodborough Croquet Club
Nick is one of the founding members of the Bear of Rodborough Croquet Club and for most of its 25 years, he has maintained the lawn. He takes time off work every week to weed, feed, roll and mow the lawn. He sets the hoops and paints the white lines. He does this entirely alone and the quality of the lawn improves year on year. Nick is so busy he rarely has time to play croquet and does all the lawn work out of sight of members, but because he is so reliable, they know that a pristine lawn will await them.
Christopher Larsson - Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club
Chris has been Club Treasurer for many years. The club has a large budget and his position involves a great deal of work. Chris's accounting, budgeting and financial administration are always of extremely high quality, and his extensive work in committee and sub-committee has also contributed greatly. The resultant benefits to the club, and consequently to croquet, have been enormous.
Ann Lee - Colchester Croquet Club
Ann Lee joined Colchester Croquet Club around 25 years ago and has devoted herself to service within the club throughout that time. Her outstanding catering abilities have been apparent to all members and to everyone visiting for CA tournaments and other events, but many of the other tasks she performed quietly and without recognition were known to only a few. Ann has given so much to the club, at the expense of playing as much as she would have liked, that this award is richly deserved. Ann served as Chairman for several years and was a member of the committee for many more, organising amongst other things the annual dinner. The croquet world is indebted to Ann for everything she has contributed to Colchester Croquet Club.
Sue Mackay - Dyffryn Croquet Club
Sue Mackay has been a stalwart supporter of croquet both at her club, Dyffryn, and more widely in the South West Federation. Sue has been both match secretary and secretary of the Dyffryn Club, is very active at all club events and has donated a trophy to the club. In addition to this, Sue is the publicity officer of the South West Federation and maintains the website, with all results and draws for SWF matches. She also edits, publishes and distributes the SWAN (South West Area Newsletter) throughout clubs in the South West. She also finds time to play in club tournaments and has for several years provided an informative report of the Inter-County Tournament - and taken part when Glamorgan have occasionally been short of a player.
Pamela Mason - Sussex County Croquet Club
Pamela and her husband Ken joined Sussex County Croquet Club in 1997 and they quickly became involved in the Club, Pamela joining a group headed by John Solomon to seek lottery funding. Pamela so impressed everyone with her efficiency and PA skills, she was "head-hunted" to be Club Secretary and was responsible for drawing up the Fire Policy and Child Protection Policy.
Meanwhile, Pamela was becoming involved also in the catering at the Club, and joined the catering Committee, taking over as head of catering for 2007, after which time she became Tournament Secretary. At the time of writing, she is about to relinquish this position in order to be Club Secretary again!
Ivor Meredith - Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club
Ivor has been the Secretary of Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club for many years. The club is a large one with many members and visitors, so the amount of work involved for him from day to day is considerable. Ivor keeps his finger on the pulse, and is soon aware of anything that needs to be known within the club; he is always willing to help out at short notice, if he can, in whatever way necessary. Ivor 's devotion to the club has made an enormous contribution to its health, and consequently to croquet.
Carter Moody - Compton Croquet Club
Carter Moody has been a member of Compton Croquet Club for over ten years. Carter is an all-round performer and a pillar of strength. His contribution to recruiting new members and to coaching is inspirational: he runs jamborees, supports visiting social groups, and organises the attendance and content of practical demonstrations at shopping centres and other venues. He also recruits and coaches youth members. He produces croquet literature including instruction booklets, posters on tactics and letter cards to boost Club funds. He supports CCC winter Bridge Club. A quiet diligent person with dogged determination, Carter is a member of the committee with an excellent knowledge of buildings and can also turn his hand to most maintenance things. CCC hopes to have a new clubhouse and Carter has led in drawing up plans and contacting and informing key professional people who may be involved in the proposed build.
Rodney Parkins - Medway Croquet Club
Rodney Parkins was one of the leading lights of a group who established the Medway croquet Club, having persuaded Rochester Council to allocate them the land in 1991. He was the first chairman of the club and was active in motivating and encouraging people to take up the game. Rodney was the first member of the club to enter competitions, and his success led the way for others to follow. The club outgrew its initial venue and Rodney helped to secure a new site at the Cobdown Sports and Social Club. The club has since gone from strength to strength with four lawns and the use of a pavilion. Rodney is still very active in the club.
Jack Pattenden - Llanfairfechan Croquet Club
Newly retired, Jack Pattenden and his wife had taken up golf, and at a club Open Day, they were shown golf croquet and were quickly hooked. Within 10 months, Jack was elected Chairman and Helen was elected onto the committee. Jack wasted no time in getting things moving to upgrade the Club's off-court facilities, negotiating with architects, builders, funders and not accepting 'no' for an answer. The club's new facilities are a tribute to Jack's work and the club is very
Ray Ransom - Bristol Croquet Club
For more than 25 years, Ray, a past Chairman of the club, has been one of the driving forces in bringing the club into the 20 Century. He quickly demonstrated his aptitude for the game, became a qualified coach, and won the Club's over 9 handicap competition in his first year. Since then, the club has benefited from his counsel as he progressed to a Grade 1 coach. In the early days, Ray would be found cutting the courts before going to work, along with emptying the Elsan - in the days when we collected water from a tap at the gate. Since then, when the Clubhouse was being improved, he demonstrated both his plumbing and electrical skills.
Jim Wallen - Kington Langley Croquet Club
Jim Wallen joined Kington Langley Croquet Club in 1999 and his unstinting generosity to the Club in time and effort that made him stand out as someone special. He was a skilled craftsman and, although still working, found time to install a fitted kitchen and running water into the club hut, created a drainage system, made and hung doors, made an honours board and many smaller items to the benefit of all. He also mowed and white-lined the lawns every week. This year, recently retired, Jim enjoyed playing in several tournaments. He was Vice Chairman and was to have taken over as Chairman next year. It was with great sadness that the club learned the news of the death of Jim whilst on holiday with his wife and two friends. Jim was a popular and much-respected member of the Club; a family man, quiet and unassuming but of great character and determination. His contribution to the Club was immense and he will be greatly missed.
Using this website
