CA Diplomas Awarded in 2013
Contents...
L to R: Tim Smith, John Munt, Alwen Bowker, Les Bowker, Jo Munt, Quiller Barrett, Craig Edwards, Chrissy Isaacs, Jonathan Isaacs, Hilary Smith (Photo: Chris Roberts)
Les and Alwen Bowker - Cheltenham Croquet Club
Soon after joining Cheltenham Croquet Club as full members in 2006, Les and Alwen agreed to take over the management of the Bar, sourcing new and interesting beers with the result that visitors to Cheltenham commented on the good range of beer at the club. They also arranged training and support for members manning the bar. They spearheaded an innovative plan to move the bar and create a lounge area for members: they set about demolishing and rebuilding the bar and undertook many of the construction tasks themselves. Everyone comments positively on all the new arrangements.
Alwen and Les have introduced speed croquet at the club which is now a popular winter activity. When Alwen is not on a ladder re-proofing the five wooden pavilions or painting clips and other lawn furniture, she can often be found mentoring new members of the club, assisting at open days, plant sales and any other task that requires a willing volunteer. Les has managed the Intermediate and other Federation teams for the club. He is a calm and knowledgeable coach for players new to the game and often acts as mentor until new members have settled into the club.
Susan Edwards - Cheltenham Croquet Club
Aware of setting the precedent of a posthumous award, Cheltenham Croquet Club would nevertheless wish to formally recognise Susan Edwards' significant contribution to the Club with a nomination for a CA Diploma. Susan's introduction to croquet was watching the final stages of the MacRobertson Shield at Cheltenham in 1996 and she immediately set about trying to attain the same standard. Her commitment to excel did not blind her to the progress of others and she could be seen offering quiet and discreet coaching to those who struggled with the finer points of break play. She also made a point of recognising and encouraging the efforts of other members away from the spotlight of mainstream club activity. But it was in the role of Club Chairman that Susan made her presence felt in a highly significant and lasting fashion. She ensured that the Committee dealt not only with day-to-day issues but also addressed any longer-term problems of the Club without losing sight of the needs and best interests of all club members.
Her determination to continue acting effectively and decisively through the later stages of her final illness was inspirational.
The CA Diploma was Presented Posthumously to her husband, Craig Edwards.
John Handy - Kenilworth and Nottingham Croquet Clubs
John has been a member of Nottingham for over twenty years and Kenilworth for 15 years. At both clubs he has taken an active part club management and sharing his enthusiasm for the sport with members and visitors. At Nottingham, he was an efficient treasurer for six years from 2005 to 2011, and organised the movement of club funds and activity to the Charity Aid Foundation bank where they remain to this day. His time in this role is remembered for his obliging and helpful nature, "nothing was too much trouble". At Kenilworth, John was a key committee member in launching the club on its growth to its current strong position and, as Club Secretary, he organised the club's systems on a more efficient and user-friendly basis. He handled all the admin, including member communications and renewals. He also represented Kenilworth on the West Midlands Federation, before moving on to represent the Federation at the CA. John is a referee in both codes of the sport and an active coach. He encouraged the growth of Golf Croquet and managed tournaments at both clubs particularly B-Level to encourage more competitive play. He also donated trophies to both clubs and at Kenilworth, members still compete for the Pindi Cup and the Secunderabad Cup, trophies won by his mother as a Tennis player in India.
Zoe Hawkins - Ramsgate Croquet Club
Zoe Hawkins has been a stalwart member of the Ramsgate Club since its earliest days. She became an essential part of the smooth running of the catering department. Her "Coronation Chicken, Lemon Meringue Ice Cream" and lasagne were renowned! She certainly helped to build up the club's reputation in staging Open Tournaments.
Zoe also served on the committee for many years and provided the club with a marvellous archive of photographs of the club's history. Advancing years and failing health have forced her to retire from active service in the Club and she certainly deserves recognition for her past work.
Jonathan and Chrissy Isaacs - Sussex County Croquet Club
A well-known figure in croquet circles, Jonathan Isaacs was introduced to croquet in 1984 joining Sussex County Croquet Club the following year. He became Chairman of the CA Marketing Committee in 1999, Chairman of the CA Management Committee circa 2002, and then Chairman of Council in 2005 for two years. He helped organise the Golf Croquet World Championships at Southwick in 2004, and had been involved in marketing at SCCC for some time and became Chairman in 2008. The Croquet Academy at Southwick, which goes from strength to strength, was entirely his idea, and he set up and launched it. More recently he helped introduce the concept of the Southern Challenge to the SECF. Jonathan stepped down from the Chairmanship of SCCC in 2012, but was obliged to reassume the position in 2013. He is still a driving force at club, regional, and national level, and is currently head of Marketing for the CA, where he was made a Vice-President in 2011.
Chrissy Isaacs does not play croquet, but has supported Jonathan wholeheartedly and immersed herself in the social life of the Club. She has masterminded the catering at Southwick for the last five years, was a driving force behind the redesign and equipment of the kitchen, and is a very able cook. It is thanks to her that the themed dinners have become so successful and the club's reputation for good food is her legacy.
Paul Miles - Medway Croquet Club
Paul Miles has been a stalwart of the club for at least 18 years. His closeness to the club ensured that he learned rapidly (started at 16, down to 6 and has been down to 1). Once he was experienced, he would undertake weekly coaching for members and newcomers and would help on the club's committee and would be the first at the club to set out the equipment for visiting teams.
Neil Morrison - Swindon Croquet Club
Neil is ever-present at the lawns on club afternoons running improver sessions for members and is a lead coach on the beginners' courses. From the day he joined, Neil has been involved with the club's "Taking Croquet to the Community" project. In 2012 the club introduced 16 plus groups to the sport in over 50 events and Neil turned out for 90% of the events introducing over 900 adults and children to the sport. When the club was asked by Swindon Borough Council how could the cost of the lawn maintenance be reduced, Neil grasped this as an opportunity to improve the club's facilities and played a major part in putting a development plan to take over the maintenance and increase the number of lawns from two to three. Neil played a major role in putting together successful lottery applications for funding bids to raise the money to buy machinery and a club room. He also negotiated with contractor, the council, etc. to ensure that everything was in place by 1 April 2013.
Neil had the vision and assembled all the component parts for Swindon Croquet Club to have its first clubroom in its 27 years and has made an outstanding contribution to the club and residents of Swindon.
John and Jo Munt - Preston Croquet Club
We are fortunate to have John and Jo Munt, who have dedicated themselves to ensure we have a club that is welcoming, friendly and a joy to belong to. John is our Chairman and Jo a member of the committee, but their greater benefit is their willingness to help others; John in arranging monthly social events and organising club games and matches: Jo with her catering expertise, preparing the food for many events and especially the excellent teas for visiting teams. We owe both of them a debt of gratitude.
David Parkins - Medway Croquet Club
David Parkins joined Medway in 1992, shortly after its start. As a land surveyor, his services were, and are, invaluable in finding suitable sites, measuring accurately, identifying slopes, etc. Moreover, David looked after newcomers, members who wanted coaching, and organised the Kent team in the Inter-County Championship. In addition, he is the most experienced of the Club committee, during which time, he once reduced his handicap to scratch.
Hilary and Tim Smith - Compton Croquet Club
Hilary and Tim came to Eastbourne from Nottingham with the new millennium bringing their wide-ranging croquet experience with them, and this has proved invaluable to the running and well-being of Compton. Members and visitors alike have benefited from their devotion in a range of contributions that makes daunting reading. Tim has just relinquished the post of treasurer after more than a decade of meticulous record-keeping, ably assisted by Hilary as membership secretary. Hilary took on the task of organising tournament catering and the rotas for club teas; Tim had charge of stocking and running the bar; and between them, they supplied lunches for most of the major calendar events. One might think that this was enough for anyone, but not for Hilary! For many years she has been lead coach for both beginners and improvers, and club representative and GC league contact for the SE Federation. She studied to become the club's only referee and has recently begun to manage both internal and CA tournaments. To fill her "spare time" she helps keep the flower beds weeded and makes dozens and dozens of jars of marmalade and jam to swell club funds. Their joint efforts are hugely appreciated by club members and richly deserve wider recognition.
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