CA Diplomas Awarded in 2019
Contents...
John Wallace (Nailsea), Chris Roberts (Phyllis Court), Simon Hathrell (Watford Cassiobury), Tony Thomas (Southport)
Chris Roberts - Phyllis Court Croquet Club
Phyllis Court Croquet Club wishes to propose that Chris Roberts be considered for the award of a Croquet Association Diploma, and we offer the following in evidence and for use as a citation
Chris Roberts joined Phyllis Court Croquet Club in 2006 and not long afterwards became, and remains, the backbone of the Club.
He brought the energy and enthusiasm for competitive play that he had enjoyed in a previous sporting career in rugby, and that positive force rippled through the well-established Phyllis Court club, at a time when it was centred on the social side of croquet.
Chris was quickly brought onto the club committee to oversee the courts (having been recognised as agile enough to set hoops!) and he soon used that position to champion for improved playing conditions and competitive opportunities.
He assisted Frances Colman, who shared that competitive vision, in introducing handicaps for all club members, and this then allowed for the introduction of classed competitions and tournaments for all levels of ability, and the establishment of two new Handicap League teams.
Chris qualified as GC Championship referee, graded GC and AC coach, and, over time, he and Frances became an experienced tournament management double-act at club, Federation and CA level.
Chris had a successful first stint as Phyllis Court Croquet Chairman 2011-13, with the mantra to 'provide something for everyone', and that saw more internal events arrive and CA fixture book tournaments return for the first time in decades, all the while taking care not to disturb the long-established social playing periods at Phyllis Court.
Chris became the Development Officer of the Southern Federation before being elected its Chairman in 2012 and he also took on the Editorship of the Croquet Gazette in 2013. He continues to perform both roles whilst playing to Championship Level in both croquet codes.
In 2012 Chris was brought on to the GC Tournaments Committee of the CA where he proved the doubters wrong with the introduction of the very successful B-Level Series in 2014 and he subsequently energetically repeated the same theme again in 2017 with the introduction of the C-Level Series, thereby establishing a production line for future GC talent.
A call back to the Phyllis Court chairmanship position came in 2016 and Chris has overseen the most successful on-court period in the history of the Club, topped by his captaincy of the Club to the final of the GC Inter-Club Championship Final in 2018.
Chris is immensely proud to have recruited 168 Phyllis Court players to membership of the CA, making the club the largest in the country by that measure. He maintains the highest level of commitment to croquet and shows no sign of slacking off as the years roll by.
As Chris ends his second period as club chairman, Phyllis Court Croquet Club commends him for the award of a CA Diploma for Service to his Club and the wider Sport of Croquet.
Anthea Carter - Dowlish Wake Croquet Club
Since 2007, when Anthea Carter joined the Dowlish Wake Croquet Club, she has worked tirelessly in the interests of the club. As a talented new player, it took only a year for her to win the Club doubles competition in 2008, join the committee as treasurer and play in league games. Her enthusiasm for the game and the players was unbounded.
By 2009, Anthea became the chairman of the club and she quickly became familiar with all aspects of the training schedule for members, the running of the club, and recruitment of new members, club and league competitions, external fundraising from Rotary and golf clubs. In fact, nothing escaped her attention and her encyclopaedic knowledge of all things croquet has stood the club and its members in good stead for many years. She is still a role model and mentor whose advice is sought on many occasions.
In 2015 she gained her club coach qualification and has consistently run coaching sessions at the beginning of the croquet seasons.
In November 2016, disaster struck when the pavilion was burnt to the ground in an arson attack. This was a testing time for everyone concerned with the playing field. Nothing deterred, Anthea, with dogged determination, organised a temporary portacabin to be used as a clubhouse, together with storage units for any equipment which had escaped the flames. With financial support from the Dowlish Wake Playing Field Trust, croquet was able to continue operating for the next two years without a break - while the new clubhouse was built. When the portacabin was removed, she determined to buy a marquee to give precious shelter for the members during the bad weather.
At a time when many would have given up after looking at the dreadful destruction and the enormity of the problems of those two years, Anthea's extraordinary organisational skills made it possible for the club to remain operating. She drove forward with determination and vigour to maintain the existence of the club. She encouraged fundraising, coaching and found new members, organised competitions and tournaments at a very difficult time.
One of her final acts was to persuade members to change the name of the croquet club to Dowlish Wake Croquet Club - previously called Dowlish Wake Golf Croquet Club, thus encouraging all aspects of croquet to be played. There is now burgeoning interest from members interested in Short Croquet and Association Croquet. Club members have attended coaching courses at Budleigh Salterton with further ongoing coaching organised at our club.
It was a sad day for the club when Anthea, exhausted but with a tangible sense of achievement, decided to step down as Chair. Dowlish Wake Croquet Club will be forever in her debt.
This committee unreservedly hopes that the Croquet Association recognises, Anthea's amazing achievements and awards her a Diploma in recognition of all her hard work.
Geoff Johnson - Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club
Since joining the club in 2008 Geoff has been an extremely active member. As Honorary Treasurer for the past 10 years, Geoff has ensured that the club has stayed on a sound financial footing. As well as representing the club in East Anglian Croquet Federation and National events at both AC and GC he has done much to encourage greater participation in these events from the general membership. He spends a great deal of time arranging GC fixtures and manages our GC B-Level and C-Level tournaments.
Away from these time-consuming front-line activities, he has been hoop setter in chief for many years indulging members' requests for dual settings for AC and GC and re-sets during the season. If there is a need to repair local damage to the courts, to remove worm casts or to organise watering during periods of drought Geoff is there to sort it out
Simon Hathrell - Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club
Simon joined Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club in 2003 and has been on the Club Committee since 2006. As AC manager he organises all the AC internal competitions and external fixtures including national competitions such as the Mary Rose, East Anglian Croquet Federation (EACF) league matches and friendlies against Oxford and Cambridge University. He does much to facilitate The National Schools' and Juniors' AC Championships which are hosted by Watford and still finds time to organise the Hertfordshire team in the Inter-Counties Championship.
As a strong player, he represents the club at both AC and GC. He organises and manages three AC open tournaments and two internal one ball tournaments.
Away from the court he orders plaques, locates suitable watering equipment and has been known to manufacture a plinth for a trophy.
As webmaster for both Watford and the EACF Simon has created and progressively developed websites that are the envy of many clubs. These are an asset from which all members derive benefit including a court booking system. Few appreciate how many hours of work this involves requiring expertise and close attention to detail.
Tony Thomas - North West Federation
Tony Thomas is a member of Southport Croquet Club where he has been actively involved, taking on many roles over the years. His commitment to the North West Federation, however, has been outstanding. In 2002 he set up the www.croquetnw.co.uk website and is still maintaining it to this day. 17 years of enthusiasm! This has been a valuable resource for all information relating to The North West Federation and its clubs. The site is always up to date with information ranging from National to Regional matters and all League results as they come in. Request for "publicity" for upcoming events at the various clubs is posted promptly. The website has become a valuable archive for all things croquet related in the North West. His photography catches the magic that is The North West Federation's Festival of Croquet. A unique and very special croquet event which again is a valuable archive for the future. Examples are inserted below but for full wow factor visit http://www.croquetnw.co.uk/?cat=31. Tony also ran the extensive North West Federation Leagues from 2009 until 2016 bringing in many changes which have improved the experience for all North West Croquet players.
John Wallace - Nailsea and District Croquet Club
John Wallace joined Nailsea and District Croquet Club in 1998, but despite having considerable ability he has been a full but non-playing member since 2000.
He has contributed greatly to the club since then. In 2002 he developed equipment to enable accurate and firm setting of the hoops. Well set hoops have become a hallmark of the club ever since and for some years he set the hoops almost single-handedly.
In 2011 he took over management of the lawns and improved them hugely. Not only did the quality of the sward improve but so did the drought resistance.
In 2016 he led the project to level all four lawns. Work started in September 2017 and was plagued by bad weather, the resulting problems having been documented in the CA Gazette. His presence at the club has been continuous throughout the whole project and it is because of this that we now have fine lawns on which to play. He has had help of course, but it has been his drive, determination and hard work which have brought us so far. Never one to be satisfied with a job that is less than complete, he still works and organises to produce an ever finer and smoother surface upon which we can all enjoy our games to the full.
Our club owes him a huge debt of gratitude for bringing us so far and believes that he has fully earned the award of a Croquet Association diploma.
Sue Norfolk - Weston-Super-Mare Croquet Club
We have one such person in our club, Mrs Sue Norfolk, who we feel warrants recognition.
Sue took on the role of Club Secretary in 2010. She has been, and still is, a tower of strength and, in addition to overseeing the club's administration during the past eight years, Sue undertakes work far in excess of what we would expect of a club secretary - including tasks such as the mowing of our lawns and outfield. Her example and enthusiasm is an inspiration to us all.
David Seed - Blewbury Croquet Club
When Blewbury Croquet Club's previous Lawns Manager was looking to retire ten years ago, David Seed took the role of assistant to learn the job, including mowing, aerating, weeding, and understanding the irrigation system. At the end of the year, the about-to-retire manager's verdict was: "I cannot stress just how lucky I think we are to have found someone as dependable and thorough as David Seed." David went on a grounds maintenance course, became our Lawns Manager, and, assisted by many other volunteer club members also attending to the machinery and grounds, directed the club's lawns care programme and put in untold hours of work himself, all to maintain the high standard of playing surface we're so proud of. One member recently observed that our courts were of a higher standard than the lawns he had been playing on in Florida.
David soon added Facilities Manager to his Lawns role. In 2014 he was named our Club Member of the Year. Last year he won both our GC handicap competition and our AC handicap competition, and this year he has finally stepped back from lawns and facilities management - in order to spend more time playing croquet.
We believe David's long hours and dedication over the past decade to preserve and improve our club's fine playing surface, so often commended by visiting players, amply merit the award of a CA Diploma.
Andru Blewett - St Agnes Croquet Club
St Agnes Croquet Club has just celebrated its fifth anniversary and therefore to put forward one of our members for the CA Diploma may seem presumptuous. But I am confident that Andru has achieved as much in five years as others might have done in longer periods of service.
Anyone who has been involved in setting up a new club will know that it requires teamwork and leadership. Leadership can be shown in many ways, not necessarily by office, speech-making or handing out prizes: the greatest of all attributes is setting an example - standards of hard work and enthusiasm.
Andru Blewett has been at the forefront of all our activities from the start. His zeal for the game has been matched by his hard work and commitment, both on and off the lawns.
Andru has served on the club committee from the beginning, now as vice-chair, but more importantly has taken the initiative in organising annual competitions against other Cornish clubs. He is also involved in the running of the in-house competitions. His latest venture is a Cornwall singles championship.
He also works with the 'greens' team, which includes maintenance of our ride own mower. He acts as one of our general handymen; he has made three wooden trollies for croquet equipment for each lawn. His strength in this area is that he often foresees problems before any of us realise there is one - from mole catching (humanely I might add) and wire-netting to keep out stray dogs.
As well as being one of the leading players and a regular member of the handicap team, Andru was the first, on his own initiative, to take golf croquet coaching and refereeing courses. He runs weekly coaching sessions for members, and it is no exaggeration that he has single-handedly raised the level of play in the club so that we can run two league teams.
In addition, he has been very active in promoting the game on our regular 'taster' days for the community, and with visiting groups. He has also been heavily involved with all our fund-raising activities.
It is fair to say that without Andru's exceptional energy, commitment and practical skills, the St Agnes Club would not be where it is today. It would be brilliant if this could be acknowledged publicly.
Roz Wright - Peterborough Croquet Club
Roz was a newcomer to our sport when she joined Peterborough Croquet Club soon after its inception in August 2006. She volunteered to join the club committee in its first year, and was immediately recognised as having the personality to be our chairman - a role she has continued to perform ever since, beautifully. For several years, all club members were happy to play almost exclusively Association Croquet - with alternate-stroke doubles found to be a good way of keeping the star players from monopolising time-on-lawn - but Roz led the way in stemming a later decline in numbers by promoting Golf Croquet. Under her enthusiastic leadership, the GC group has gone from strength to strength, numbering nearly thirty players by the end of the 2018 season. Roz still plays some high-handicap AC herself - a distinctive figure on court, with her dodgy-hip-induced rolling gait - but more importantly provides great behind-the-scenes support for AC events, with her teas and lunches acquiring a stellar reputation amongst our visitors in recent years. She also works hard in liaising with the park authorities and with the bowls club which shares our pavilion, two notable successes being the installation of a security fence and our inheritance of a disused bowling green, making us a two-lawn club (three, on the weekends we borrow the remaining bowling green for our tournaments). In our wider region, she has often run sessions where the public can have a go - for example, at Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland. She remains active off-season, having for years organised New-Year pub lunches that attract virtually a full turn-out of club members. We would be delighted if Roz's huge contribution to our club is recognised with a CA Diploma
Gerald Wynn - Cheltenham Croquet Club
Gerald was Director of Finance at a government agency based in Cheltenham so Cheltenham Croquet Club felt that with him as Treasurer its affairs were in safe hands. Gerald was treasurer for ten years but this is not a Diploma nomination just for time served
As Vice-Chair of the committee, he had to take over as Chair ( while still being Treasurer) during the illness and untimely death of the then Chair and hold the fort until a new committee member could be co-opted to take over. Cheltenham is a large Club so to manage two jobs was no small matter.
Much of Gerald's contribution was unrecognised by many members and perhaps by some on the committee. Renegotiating utilities contracts and insurance policies is not stirring stuff but is vital. Arranging and monitoring the work done by various contractors is also largely unremarked by most members.
His sound counsel and steadying influence before and while a new Chair took over was greatly appreciated by the whole committee. Without people like Gerald Wynn in the club.
Janet Salter - Dyffryn Croquet Club
Janet Salter has been playing croquet now since 2002. She is the epitome of a solid club player, being available for Golf and Association teams over all the years of her membership - grandchildren permitting! She has been the club's treasurer since her election in 2005, carefully overseeing the club's finances. Her skills at this important job have been at the fore in recent years, due to the turbulent times at the club, including an enforced move from our home of 32 years to new premises. Janet has been the person who has ensured that the club is not overstretching itself financially. She has been and continues to be a rock for the committee. She has proved to be an invaluable member of our club in her capacities as Treasurer, committee member and croquet player.
Jean Hargreaves - Bury Croquet Club
It's very difficult to summarise in a few words just what a dynamic and wonderfully caring person Jean is.
She is always willing to go the extra mile in order to help other people achieve their ambitions or complete whatever task is required.
For the last 22 years, I have had the joy of knowing Jean and witnessing at first hand her dedication to helping others and sharing her time and energy with everyone she comes into contact with, both young and old.
According to my records, Jean joined Bury Croquet Club in 1997 and her leadership skills and ability to communicate were immediately recognised when she was appointed as the Club's Press Officer later that same year. This quickly resulted in an immediate increase in our Membership and Press coverage. Croquet suddenly became the 'must play' sport.
Prior to Jean's arrival, our membership had been stagnant for years, but very noticeably as she became involved, more and more players signed up for membership, until such time as we had the largest number of teams entering the North West Federations Leagues. This reflects Jean's personal input into our Club's development.
Jean has held many Official positions in the Club since those early years and continues to play a vital part as a Qualified Coach, Events Secretary and Committee member as well as being the main organiser of our Tournaments.
On a national level, she is the Croquet Association's Safeguarding Officer, which reflect her love of young people and her desire to encourage everyone to treat and respect others.
Brownies, Guiding Groups, Schools, Church Groups, 'Spice-Groups', and many more now regularly visit our Club to play this wonderful game of croquet.
Four years ago it was decided we needed to expand Bury Croquet Club so as to accommodate all those newcomers, members and visitors who wished to play croquet.
The result is that we now have a wonderful additional facility in Whitehead Park. Bury where we have three superb full-sized lawns plus a large Pavilion in which we can play indoor croquet during the winter months or hold Corporate Events, etc.
Jean's influence and determination for us to succeed throughout the whole of this project has been a constant influence on our Committee's decision-making process ensuring that the refurbishment of the pavilion and re-building of the lawns was done to a very high standard.
It's always a joy to watch Jean when she is coaching croquet, especially when she is communicating with young people, her love of the game and the spirit of true human kindness pores out of her, no one is ever a failure, they always succeed in her eyes.
Jean Hargreaves's dedication and work ethic certainly deserve to be acknowledged by the highest honour available.
Jennifer Fugeman - Guildford and Godalming Croquet Club
It is no exaggeration to say that without Jennifer Fugeman, Guildford and Godalming Croquet Club would not be where it is today.
Jennifer served as secretary from 2009 to 2017. Not only is she an extremely diligent administrator, but she also devoted considerable energy to the introduction of club leagues and the management of club competitions. She was instrumental in the club's participation in promotional events such as National Croquet Day and initiated and organised social events for club members, including "Croquet by Candlelight". She has spearheaded the club's online presence including a lawn booking system which she continues to manage to this day.
In the absence of a Chairman in 2013, she effectively ran the club, and continued to play a critical role over the next four years, during a particularly challenging time.
She developed the club's resources, fundraising and sourcing storage facilities, equipment and the relocation and development of new lawns.
In 2014 she undertook her biggest project - obtaining planning permission and fundraising for, then project managing, the construction of our new clubhouse. Tapping into any organisation which might be prepared to donate to the cause, she filled in application after application. She researched and resourced everything from the clubhouse shell to the fittings for the toilet - always ensuring that the club got the best possible value for every pound. As a consequence, we are now able to host major croquet events and have a thriving croquet community.
We are very grateful to her for all the time and effort she has dedicated to the club and would like to see her contribution recognised by the CA.
Marion Williams and Anwen Lloyd Williams - Llanfairfechan Croquet Club
They are daughter, Miss Anwen Lloyd Williams and her mother, Mrs Marion Williams.
Anwen has handled the Club's "Lawn Bookings Calendar" for the last 20 years and has dealt with our visiting groups ensuring that they enjoy the experience and want to come back again for more. Her time and effort ensure a revenue of approximately £1,500 annually which in turn pays for the grass cutting throughout the year. The fact that we only charge £3 a head shows how many non-members pass through her hands.
Her mother, Marion, until recently played her part in coaching the visitors but now, at the age of 90+, she prefers to sit and watch the visitors enjoying themselves on the lawns.
Anwen is our Golf Croquet Captain and our current President whilst Marion was our President during 2002-2005.
They have both been members of the Llanfairfechan Croquet Club since 1992 and being in the baking trade in the past, we have all enjoyed their cakes and puddings at our money-raising events throughout that time. Marion's "summer pudding" and Anwen's tiramisu are to die for!
Rob Weeks - Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club
Rob has been a member of Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club since 2004. He has been Estates and Grounds Manager since 2005.
He is a stalwart of the club and a major contributor to its success. Although he has a very understated approach he has been instrumental in bringing Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club to be recognised as one of the premier croquet clubs with a sufficiently high standard of lawns and facilities to host the European Golf Croquet Championships and Association Home Internationals.
The current quality of the lawns and grounds is mainly due to his stewardship and dedication. He oversaw the development of the lawns through the installation of all the watering facilities some 14 years ago, since when he has managed two groundsmen ensuring that their work continued to win the praise and appreciation of all players and visitors. When the groundsman is on holiday it is Rob who is up first thing in the morning to mow the lawns and prepare them for play. With the groundsman, he has never been shy to roll his sleeves up to help use and maintain the various mowers and other equipment. In every respect, he has been a team player.
As if this was not enough Rob has also involved himself in coaching (He is handicap 2 GC player having converted from Bowls at an early stage). Over several winters he ran a very successful and well-managed GC training course. This inspiration and encouragement of others has resulted in the GC League teams doing well.
In 2018 he was a key member of the Pavilion Development Group to design and monitor the construction and also monitor the financial arrangements of the new pavilion - replacing an old but unsafe building. With his attention to detail - and with the support of Ian Stratford, also on PDG and General Committee, the building has won universal acclaim for its sympathetic design and layout.
Before that Rob also project managed the refurbished clubhouse kitchen in 2011. Since then many caterers have been very impressed and complimentary on the type of equipment and the design. Many forget that on top of his many other skills and contributions he was also the leading spirit on the kitchen.
Rob does not seek official recognition for his efforts though we have tried several times. However, a CA Diploma would be a very fitting recognition of his commitment to Croquet and the club.
Trevor Gill - Charlton Croquet Club
Trevor's enjoyment of croquet began at college in the '60s. During his time as a teacher and ultimately Head Master at East Bridgwater Community School, he passed on his enthusiasm to his pupils on field study courses and continued to play Association Croquet with a small private village club in Stawell, Somerset, for 20 years.
When Trevor moved to Charlton Horethorne his enthusiasm for croquet continued so, in 2006, he founded the Charlton Croquet Club, playing both Association and Golf croquet (in its infancy then, which Trevor had the foresight to learn as a way of involving and interesting more people). The Club initially had 40 members, many of whom were village residents but none of whom had played before. The club played on a neighbour's lawn, punctuated by a large tree, on which Trevor taught every member to play from scratch - no mean feat! The facilities were somewhat limited and Trevor organised the use of a garage and shed adjacent to the lawn for the storage of equipment, mowers etc.
After a few years, and recognising the need for the Club to have a more permanent home and also to improve its facilities, Trevor and his wife, Ann, purchased the land and subsequently leased it to the Club for £1 per annum. This enabled the Club to apply for grants to allow the lawn to be developed into a now three-quarter-size level lawn - with no tree! Trevor and Ann also purchased a neighbour's large summer-house which was moved and is now the clubhouse.
Trevor has been and is still involved in all aspects of the Club and its upkeep and his role and contribution is recognised by the Committee appointing him and Ann as President and Vice-President of the Club respectively. The Club organises an annual Finals Day for the club competitions in both Association and Golf croquet. Trevor initially donated an antique mallet as the main prize but has gone on to use his technical skills to make, in wood, three other trophies for presentation.
The membership of the Club has steadily increased over the years and now numbers in excess of 60. In 2010 Trevor undertook a coaching course with Cliff Jones and became an officially recognised CA coach which enabled him to pass on greater skills in a more official capacity. Trevor is responsible for inducting new members and is currently leading a weekly Association Croquet coaching morning. He is also more than willing to help any member on an individual or collective basis. One of Trevor's inductees is Jonathan Powe, now of England fame.
His passion for coaching continues and is not just limited to Charlton Croquet Club. In partnership with South Somerset District Council, he has given a series of lessons to Kingsdon Croquet Club, a new start-up club, which he continues to support on a regular basis.
All the above demonstrates Trevor's love for the game of croquet and his continued involvement with the Club he founded - Charlton Croquet Club.
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