CA Diplomas Awarded in 2012
Contents...
L to R: Sara Anderson, Frances Low, David Gaitley, Daphne Gaitley, Quiller Barrett, Chris Williams, Ian Lines, Maryse Roberts and Kathy Wallace (Photo: Elizabeth Larsson)
Mike Davis - Bristol Croquet Club
Mike Davis joined the club in 1994. He briefly moved away from Bristol but the club was very pleased to see him back in 2000. From the outset, he has been one of the first members to volunteer for any groundwork that needed doing (e.g. cutting the rough grass and hedge cutting) and took charge of any work required on repairing the shelters and handrails. He also helped to repaint the clubhouse and led the research into installing a watering system. His other contributions include looking after the BBQs at the club's annual event and serving on the committee for six years. Probably the biggest task undertaken by Mike was helping to improve Bristol's clubhouse during the closed season of 2002/2003. Many hours were spent knocking down walls, putting up the false ceiling and wallpapering - his commitment was unwavering. Sadly, Mike died in late September 2012.
Jim Wilson - Bristol Croquet Club
Jim Wilson joined the club in 2000 and almost immediately started helping around the grounds and clubhouse. For over ten years he has assisted with painting, putting up new handrails by the two sets of steps, repairing the shelters and many other small but essential tasks which needed attention. He has always been a regular at the club's work days at the beginning and end of the season. Another of his skills was making cakes; his banana cake very often found its way onto the tea table at CA Tournaments and various match events. His main contribution was assisting with the improvement of Bristol's clubhouse in the autumn and winter of 2002/2003 when many hours were spent building two new changing rooms and enlarging the social area to give more room for the winter table tennis, bridge and Scrabble sessions.
Dennis Shaw - Ramsgate Croquet Club
Dennis approaches 90, he can look back with pride on nearly 30 years of service to croquet at Club, County and National level. Dennis, together with his wife Eileen, started the Ramsgate Club in 1983. The Club grew rapidly, soon outstripping the two makeshift lawns in Montefiore Park. With patience and perseverance, Dennis delicately negotiated with Thanet District Council a transfer to the Club's present site in 1987; this included a substantial subsidy towards lawn and ground maintenance. The Ramsgate Club has four purpose-laid lawns, an irrigation system and a fully equipped Clubhouse serving just over 100 members. In 1987, Dennis resurrected the Kent County team which has competed, every year since, in the Inter-County Championship. He captained the team for 20 years. Notwithstanding his local croquet administration commitments, Dennis served on the CA Council for 12 years, serving on the Laws, Handicap and Tournament Committees, chairing the latter for three years. With all these responsibilities, Dennis still found time to play the game, which he did to a creditable standard.
Maryse Roberts - Cheltenham Croquet Club
Perhaps not every visitor to Cheltenham will be familiar with the name of Maryse Roberts, but they will have unknowingly benefited from Maryse's attentions as House Manager. Cheltenham Croquet Club is always busy and more so during tournaments, of which there are at least ten per annum. As house manager, Maryse had to ensure that the facilities could copy both during and after events - probably least glamorous facet of the role of House Manager - the lonely figure doing the rounds of all the bins and huts when the prize giving is over and the crowd dispersed. Maryse coped with the World Championship at Cheltenham in 2005, ensuring that catering was provided from 7am breakfasts right through to suppers. Recruiting volunteers for catering duties is becoming harder by the year, but Maryse has devised and introduced innovative ways of making sure that a good service is delivered. Organising the annual Club spring clean is no pushover either. Husband Graham has been an immense support, especially in the remodelling of the kitchen. The Club is immensely grateful to Maryse for her long and valuable contribution.
Kathy Wallace - Nailsea and District Croquet Club
Kathy Wallace joined Nailsea and District Croquet Club in 1998 since when she has become a skilful player through many hours of practice and competitive play. Alongside her own game, she has also worked hard at coaching, encouraging and retaining new members and having been Publicity Officer for the Club, Kathy doesn't miss any opportunity to spread the word about croquet. Kathy plans, organises and manages an extensive programme of Association Croquet competitions for the Club, cajoling members to get their matches played in time for Finals Weekend which, rain or shine, is always a triumph of organisation. She also assists with Nailsea's Open calendar (providing some lovely lunches) and runs the popular B-Level Advanced Singles Weekend. This year she has taken on the role of Club Secretary which she is tackling with her usual enthusiasm and determination.
Roger Berkeley - Nottingham Croquet Club
Roger Berkeley spends much time on matters for the membership. He wears many hats but probably that most noticed is in maintenance of stores to keep the club in milk, tea and coffee, bar supplies and in looking after all aspects of the pavilion. Less obviously, Roger has undertaken many official duties and is now the Club treasurer, having been a committee member for some years. He has been particularly associated with club communications and maintaining membership records, as well as encouraging and welcoming new members. He also finds time to act as treasurer for the East Midlands Federation. Despite being a long-standing AC player, Roger has been very active in the introduction of Golf Croquet to the club which has resulted in a big increase in membership. He has been instrumental in arranging coaching sessions for both newcomers and improvers and makes sure that all players feel at home in the club.
John Low - Sussex County Croquet Club
Somebody said that behind every great woman is a great man. This is certainly the case with Frances and John Low. John Low has been a long established member of the Sussex croquet fraternity. Apart from being an excellent croquet player John's IT, administrative and managerial talents have been a great asset to the club. John took over both the Club and Academy websites and has developed them as important information and communication centres for members, visitors of the club and students of the Academy. Through the use of technology John has acted as Tournament Secretary for SCCC and assisted his wife Frances in the administration of the Academy from its creation to the present day. John has also proven to be an excellent tournament Manager and over the years has been involved in managing tournaments at club, Federation as well as National CA level held at Southwick. His seemingly calm approach has helped make many tournaments at SCCC a huge success.
Daphne Gaitley - Sussex County Croquet Club
Since 2002, David and Daphne Gaitley have made an outstanding contribution to the development of Sussex County Croquet Club. Daphne's proven ability as an excellent coach has not only helped SCCC develop as a competitive Croquet Club but enabled the club to develop a thriving golf croquet section. Daphne's coaching talents greatly helped in the creation and development of the Croquet Academy with Daphne being one of the lead coaches. Her talents did not end there: she was a long-established member of the SCCC Management Committee and would always lend a hand from the most menial to the more complex tasks faced by most clubs. Daphne sat on the CA Coaching Committee and was the SECF Federation Coaching Officer. Her contribution to coaching has helped to ensure that competitive croquet is alive and well in the South East.
David Gaitley - Sussex County Croquet Club
David Gaitley's practical talents are there for all to see. David undertook the project of modernising the Sussex CCC canteen and bar. He masterminded the project from design through to final implementation and this has helped to improve SCCC's ability to act as a host club for major CA and Federation tournaments. His talent as a beer connoisseur is evident. David ran the new SCCC bar and has developed a range of beers that would be the pride of many a CAMRA pub. His building talents are also to be seen as he undertook a second major project to rescue the storage room which was on the verge of collapse. The club now has a storage facility which should last for many years. His many talents as a designer, carpenter, electrician, and bar manager are all on view.
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