SJA Treasurer Bill Colwill was honoured at a special ceremony staged in London on Monday night, at the opening of events around the international hockey federation’s bienniel Congress.
The FIH Congress week officially opened with a cocktail party in the famous Long Room at Lord’s cricket ground, and Colwill – who has been working on hockey since the Olympic Games were staged in London in 1948 – received the President’s Award from FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman. Rupert Rumney, FIH’s television co-ordinator, also received the award.
The world of hockey is meeting in London this week, with its Congress on Saturday, the WorldHockey Forum “Synergy for Success” on Friday, plus executive board and committee meetings.
Among other award recipients on Monday was Clare Digby, the FIH’s development officer in Africa, who received the Diploma of Merit, as did the former international umpire Alain Renaud, from France. For Renaud it was a special occasion, as he had umpired at Lord’s when England hockey used the famous cricket ground to stage its internationals.
TV journalist David Christison, from Australia, also known as “the voice of WorldHockey” received a Diploma of Merit for his great contribution as official FIH TV commentator.
More FIH awards will be presented during the official dinner on Friday and the FIH Congress on Saturday.