Sports volunteers from across the United Kingdom were honoured in London last night when the Duchess of Gloucester presented the Torch Trophy Trust awards to 16 nominees who were all praised for their work by Sir Bobby Charlton, president of the Trust.
The awards went to:
Rick Britton, Stapleford, Nottingham, who has headed up the volunteers at all the disability tennis events held in Nottingham for the past 17 years.
Norman Clark, 79, Bradford, who took up refreeeing in rugby league 50 years ago and still monitors aspiring referees.
Mick Coe, Holt, Norfolk, for service to the Holt Playing Fields Association and the Holt Cricket Club, for whom he played until the age of 67.
Rochelle Dazeley, High Wycombe, for services to fencing, including eight years of support to young fencers and development of the sport in the southern region.
Brian Dent, Mansfield, who has taught swimming every night of the week for more than 40 years at the Sherwood Colliery club.
Jennifer Downs, Motherwell, for services to the Scottish Volleyball Association and the British Volleyball Federation.
Nicola Eames, head coach for the under-15 and under-18 girls rugby teams at Reading rugby club.
John Glover, Belfast, a stalwart of athletics in Northern Ireland for more than 45 years including founding the Lagan Valley Athletics Club more than 20 years ago.
Maggie Hargreaves, coach and secretary of the Colchester Phoenix swimming club for swimmers with a disability who have earned honours up to Olympic level.
Bob Jump, South Wirral, for services to cycling at the Birkenhead St Christopher’s Club and the Larkhill Wheelers, and throughout the north-west.
Stephen Keates, Shaftesbury, for his work with the North Dorset Rugby Club which now runs 20 junior teams.
Patricia Robb, Fife, who became a hockey umpire with Madras Ladies, now manages the Scotland women’s indoor hockey team and is youth convenor for Scottish hockey.
Norman Saywell, Lincoln, for service to football as player and administrator including 35 years as a member of the Lincoln Saturday League.
Kenneth Stott, Somerset, for services to badminton which he played for many years and to the South West Sports Council for more than 25 years.
Helen Weston, who founded the Durham Schools’ LTA in 1986, since when thousands of children have benefited since from her commitment to sport in the region.
Alan Williams, Norwich, for services to football as player and referee in Norfolk and now as a life member of the Norwich and District Sunday League.
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