CA Diplomas Awarded in 2015
Contents...
L to R: Brian Wilson (Camerton and Peasedown), Chris Sheen, David Warhurst (High Wycombe), Quiller Barrett, Janet Hoptroff, Brian Shorney (Budleigh Salterton), Stephen Read, Bernard Jones (Photo: Chris Williams)
Russell Barter - Cheltenham Croquet Club
Russell is one of those invaluable members who quietly goes about his business, spots a problem, and immediately does something about it. For many years now Russell has patrolled the lawns ensuring that litter is cleared from pavilions and liaising with the club cleaner to ensure the club is in pristine condition when members and visitors arrive. He also supervises the annual spring clean. It can almost be guaranteed that Russell s name will be at the top of any working party list. There he will be, immaculately dressed, shovel in hand, clearing club boundaries or repainting a pavilion.
Russell oversees the afternoon sessions of social Golf Croquet and is the captain/organiser for the South West Federation GC handicap team. He persuaded Cheltenham Croquet Club to be proactive about the re-birth of Golf Croquet at the club, which was last seriously played in the 1960s. Mainly through his enthusiasm, the club now has a core of about thirty Golf Croquet players. He has recently attended a course for those wishing to become a coach. Russell is a quiet man with energy and enthusiasm. He has made a major contribution to the club, not only with his time but also with material from his own resources. He celebrated his 90th birthday last year.
David Haslam - Colchester Croquet Club
David Haslam joined Colchester Croquet Club in 1980, was Chairman 1997-2003 and again from 2005-2009. He served as Secretary from 2001-2003 and has been Tournament Secretary since 2013. David has always done much more than expected of any office holder and spent many years keeping an eye on the care of the lawns. His speed of play is legendary following his being taught to play during his lunch hour from his work at the nearby Examination Centre! He has now moved to live near his daughters in Ely but remains a Far Country member and returns often to manage tournaments.
Bernard Jones - Woking Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Bernard has been a member of WLTCC since 2002 joining at a time when the club played almost 100% association croquet. At the same time, there was an influx of new players who were keen to try out Golf Croquet, Bernard was persuaded to become ' golf captain' and started arranging club sessions and organising handicaps. At the end of 2003, he was invited to join the Croquet Section committee and in 2004 he took over as section secretary. He retired from that post 10 years later having never missed a meeting! Bernard worked conscientiously as secretary with the committee duties sending constant reminders of all the social events, of which there are many. Bernard also compiled 3 or 4 newsletters a year to keep the membership in touch with croquet matters. He has been a peerless secretary over the last ten years and was much appreciated by the whole membership. Bernard qualified as a coach and has spent many hours over the years coaching both AC and GC encouraging all beginners to appreciate the pleasure of both games. Bernard continues to be a strong member of the coaching team at WLTCC.
Paul Pristavec - Dyffryn Croquet Club
Paul Pristavec joined Dyffryn in 1988 and in the past 27 years has given inestimable service to the club. He has organised the club s fixtures for many years and has been Chairman twice. The club secretary since 2007, Paul is at the centre of the club s organisation which goes without a hitch, and he has proved adept at liaising with the club s new landlords, the National Trust. He is also very generous with his time to help lay-out lawns, assist with the obligatory open days which the club has to provide as part of its lease, and takes part in many fixtures himself as a team member. His contribution is Dyffryn has helped the club for more than a quarter of a century.
Stephen Read - Fowey Croquet Club
Stephen Read joined the Fowey Croquet Club in 2003 and then the Cornwall Club a year later. He was immediately involved with the upkeep of the club machines at the latter club and has devoted hundreds of hours to equipment and grounds maintenance. He has made himself indispensable as maintainer and operator of the lawn-maintenance equipment used for the expanding club facilities. It is true to say that, had it not been for Stephen s experience and devotion, the club would have been hard-pressed to keep the lawns in their current fine condition. He is a member of the club Technical Committee, to which he contributes much good advice and information. He has been known to make parts for mowers and other devices and finds many useful items through the Internet. He is a keen photographer and can always be seen recording croquet action for posterity. He and his wife have produced and maintained photographic records of the club s many activities. He is always keen to help with the development of new players to the game and encourages them to extend their experience in various ways. He somehow manages to find time to play both croquet codes and has achieved a very-good level in each. He has, and still does, represent the club in several Federation Leagues and has entered several CA Tournaments.
Richard Sanville - Ashby Croquet Club
Richard Sanville was one of the founder members of Ashby Croquet Club and was a member of the winning Secretary s Shield team in 2010. He has been the club Treasurer for over fifteen years and has performed that role with the utmost efficiency. He has also designed the club website and has maintained for around 10 years. He is the driving force behind the organisation and execution of the club s learn-to-play courses and as a result of his efforts the club has gained many new members. Richard is always pleasant and cheerful and is a driving force behind the success of Ashby Croquet Club.
Chris Sheen - Colchester Croquet Club
Chris Sheen joined Colchester Croquet Club around 1976 as a young, professional chartered accountant. He quickly established himself as a most competent player of what we now call AC. Following the retirement of the club treasurer at that time Chris was appointed Treasurer in 1983 and served with distinction for 30 years without a break.
During that time he managed the club s finances through a period when the club was struggling. Chris resigned as treasurer in 2014 and was then elected Chairman of the Club, a position he still holds. Over recent years Chris has done much to promote Golf Croquet and he is now in the ranks of the senior GC players in the country.
Fred Smith - Church Stretton Croquet Club
Fred Smith founded the Church Stretton Croquet Club in 1992. He invited anyone in the town interested in playing croquet to meet at the Long Mynd Hotel. Around fifteen people came and Fred explained that the hotel lawn was available, the West Midlands Federation would loan the necessary equipment, and that he had obtained a copy of the Constitution and By-laws of another croquet club which were adapted for Church Stretton.
Fred organised a working party to get the lawn into a playable condition, persuaded the hotel to keep the lawn mown, marked it out, and play soon started. He arranged a monthly ladder, a knock-out competition plus club afternoons. By the time the hotel reclaimed the lawn for building purposes in 2005, the club had become well established and the success of the Club in its early years was entirely due to Fred s initiative. Without Fred s enthusiasm the thriving Club as it is today, with two lawns in the town park would not exist. Fred still continues to coach beginners and remains an active member of the club.
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