Croquet England Diplomas Awarded in 2025
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Philip de Glanville - Bath Croquet Club
Philip de Glanville
Philip joined the Committee at Bath CC in 2018, and his influence and significant knowledge of croquet continues to benefit the Club and we have great pleasure in submitting our recommendation for his nomination for a Croquet England Diploma.
In 2015, his inaugural year at Bath, Philip was awarded the Nick King Memorial Trophy as the most improved club newcomer. Additionally, the Captain's Cup for the most capped player in the 2018 season and the Garrard Trophy as the club's most improved player of the year in 2019.
His passion for Association Croquet is always in evidence. Many Bath members have benefited from being coached by Philip, and he fully engages newcomers with his excellent sense of humour, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere and often interjecting to keep up the morale of established members when their game needs a boost. He also plays Golf Croquet and has supported the adoption of Advantage GC play.
Whenever the club has held CA/CqE tournaments, Philip has been ever present as tournament manager, setting hoops and giving assistance. He has previously held the role of our SWF fixtures' secretary and delivered a comprehensive internal fixtures competition list too.
Philip has been instrumental in developing the Bath Academy U18s section. As a consequence, Bath now delivers a thriving weekly programme that, for the first time, enables the club to send teams to the annual National Junior Club Championships at Nottingham.
He was instrumental in the club being awarded a CA grant for the resurfacing of our renowned 'wibbly/wobbly' lawn 4 and with his usual full commitment has personally laboured and involved members.
With such adaptability, Philip has been fully involved in club life, always willing to give of his time and expertise, and will be a worthy recipient of the Croquet England Diploma.
Penny Clark - Ben Rhydding Croquet Club
Penny Clark
Ben Rhydding Croquet Club wishes to acknowledge the commitment, enthusiasm, energy, and time that Penny Clark has given to the Club over many years. A long serving committee member, Penny has served as Secretary, Membership Secretary and Club Captain and has always made herself available for any job requiring attention.
Penny, a Grade 1 Golf Coach, has used her skills over the years in running specifically tailored courses to meet the individual needs of new members. She is also heavily committed to the annual U3A courses that the Club runs, which have always been very successful, not only in terms of revenue, but more importantly in the recruiting of new members. More recently, she has become involved at Federation level, assisting with coaching courses run at the Northern Academy in York.
Always alert to the needs of the Club, Penny qualified as a Golf Referee in 2023 and now uses her skills to improve club members' knowledge of the Rules.
Marion Cofield - Ben Rhydding Croquet Club
Marion Cofield
Ben Rhydding Croquet Club is a small club in West Yorkshire that has a complex association with its many neighbours; being a small part of the overall Ben Rhydding Sports Club, sharing its two courts with a Tennis Club, and having access to some of the Bowls Club's facilities.
Marion has been a member of the Croquet Club for eight years and has used her exceptional people skills in negotiations with all these other bodies to achieve harmony and the best possible outcomes for the Croquet Club. Within the Club, her gentle, smiling personality encourages established and new members alike in club activities. She volunteers for just about everything and, on Committee, often picks up new roles at little, or sometimes no, notice. She does, actually, find time to play a good game of croquet.
The Club wishes to acknowledge her immense contribution with this nomination for a Croquet England Diploma.
Brian Wilson - Camerton & Peasedown Croquet Club
Brian Wilson
Brian started playing at Lansdown CC, Bath, c. 2001. Around 2012, the club relocated to Peasedown St John, and Brian was instrumental in organising and raising funds for the move.
He joined the committee as Minutes Secretary and Liaison Officer.
More recently, he has helped to raise substantial amounts of money for the new Clubhouse (opened in 2023) by applying to various organisations.
He has, over the years, written numerous articles for the press about the Club and has taken part in several interviews with local radio, promoting the Club.
He became a GC Club Coach and subsequently a Grade 1 GC Coach in 2015 and has continued to coach, generously, to CPCC members and in many local clubs.
Not satisfied with just coaching, he became a GC Referee in 2023 and has offered his services on numerous occasions both at CPCC and at many Clubs in the area. The amount of time he contributes to the game is humbling.
As if this is not enough, he has served on the South West Federation of Croquet Clubs in various roles, including Chairman, and has represented the South West at Croquet England and is currently a Trustee of Croquet England.
He is now a Development Representative for the South West.
Brian's enthusiasm for the game is infectious, and he is always willing to help or offer advice, whether it is within his club or further afield.
He would be a very deserving recipient of the Croquet England Diploma.
Rhona Foster - Cornwall Croquet Club
Rhona Foster
Rhona served the maximum term of nine years on the club's committee as both Chair and Secretary. She stood down as Secretary at the 2023 AGM but then went on to be a trustee for the newly formed CIO in 2024. She goes above and beyond in organising the Club to run efficiently and effectively.
Rhona took on the role of grounds manager in 2023, is on the mowing rota and served many years as the club's white liner. She is frequently at the club sorting out ground's issues, strimming, mowing, gardening duties and maintenance around the grounds, from fence repair to thistle removal. There is no job she won't tackle. She often forgoes playing croquet to complete grounds work.
Rhona is a level one coach and provides coaching sessions to help members with their game. She will willingly help any member who requests it to improve their game, sharing her expertise and knowledge with clarity. There are many of us in the club whose game has improved as a result of her coaching and advice.
Rhona will always hold back if too many people turn up for roll-up sessions, ensuring others get a game before herself.
Rhona will always attend open days and help novices and beginners to learn how to play. Rhona takes part in and runs club competitions and plays in league games for both golf and association croquet. She offers encouragement to other club members about taking part in competitions and league games, passing on her enjoyment of the game.
We were given notice that the lease for our grounds would not be renewed in 2026. Rhona's involvement in the initial negotiations for the purchase of the grounds was invaluable.
Rhona is a champion for croquet and a linchpin for Cornwall Croquet Club.
Jean Cording - Dowlish Wake Croquet Club
Jean Cording
Jean has been Chairman of Dowlish Wake Croquet Club for several years now, a position for which she volunteered - and how glad we are she did!
She chairs our committee meetings with professional authority and adds humour, keeping us on track with points in hand. It is ever apparent she has done an enormous amount of background work, researching topics and meeting people, so we have the facts before us. Topics are not left open-ended. At a meeting's close, we know precisely who is dealing with what and how.
On the pastoral side, Jean sees to the welfare of our members. It is a testament to her character that she is very approachable, concerns and grievances being dealt with in a discreet manner. She keeps in touch with members, past and present, who are unwell by sending cards, by telephone and visiting.
Jean has also introduced social events, BBQs, cream teas and a Christmas Party! She is open to new ideas and encourages member participation in running competitions and helping with lawn maintenance. Jean, herself, is a hard worker and always ready to pitch in with the physical work.
She is efficient and willing to dedicate hours of her personal time for the good of the Club, but still finds time for her croquet! She is a qualified club coach and a keen and highly valued league player. She likes to win but is gracious in defeat!
Jean has always liked some glitter in her clothes and shoes - she is our 'Miss Sparkle' - bringing sparkle to the everyday and to her presence.
She is highly respected and valued by the members and the committee alike. I would be delighted to see Jean officially recognised by Croquet England.
Simon Tuke - Ealing Croquet Club
Simon Tuke
Simon became Chair of Trustees of Ealing Croquet Club in September 2020, shortly after our incorporation as a charity.
Since then, Simon has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure the club's future for generations to come, cementing our position not just in the croquet-playing world, but also within the wider local community, opening the site to more people, and offering a range of ways for people of all ages and abilities to experience and enjoy croquet.
Key to this was his central role in negotiations with the council to secure a 15-year lease, giving us security of tenure and allowing us to plan for the future with confidence.
Simon's calm and practical approach steered us through protracted and often frustrating negotiations, gaining several concessions and putting the club firmly within the council's strategic parks plan. Simon was also a driving force in fundraising initiatives to renovate the Edwardian pavilion and purchase lawn maintenance equipment.
A well-respected competitor on the AC circuit, Simon always finds time to come down to new member sessions, and support with coaching and community group activities. A friendly and welcoming face, he hosts the annual Charity One-Ball event, captains the annual Lloyd-Pratt High Wycombe 'Derby', and enthusiastically supports the club teams and tournaments. He also took the lead in Ealing becoming a venue for the 2023 AC World Championships.
From a low of 44 members at the start of the COVID pandemic, the club now has a solid core of around 80 members and sees over 300 other participants visit the site to play croquet every year.
As Simon looks to step down in the near future with his move away from the area, he leaves the club in a secure position from which to look to the future and continue to develop and grow.
Nigel Parkins - East Dorset Croquet Club
Nigel Parkins
Nigel Parkins has been a member of East Dorset for almost 25 years. After his first few years, Nigel's newfound love of croquet developed into a deep and genuine desire to see the club flourish and grow. Always keen to help, to lend a hand and to pitch in, he has been a stalwart of the club in a number of ways, and we have all benefitted from his advice, help and companionship.
Nigel took over as Tournaments Secretary in 2013 and held the appointment for seven years. During his tenure, he developed the role considerably and produced an interesting, varied calendar of events that was greatly appreciated by members and visitors alike. A highly efficient and experienced administrator, he managed the club's fixture entries with great skill and ensured all the competitors were given the necessary information in a timely manner before each event. Importantly, he also took the time to photograph and catalogue the club's many trophies, and established a system to make sure they were returned and engraved before the start of the next season. His successors have many reasons to thank him!
But Nigel is perhaps best known for his willingness to introduce newcomers to the game and to pass on his advice to developing players. For some years, he was the first person to whom newcomers were referred for basic tuition. And any passing visitor showing a modicum of interest in the game will often find Nigel at their side, asking them whether they would like to have a go. His friendly, warm personality helps put everyone at ease, and it is wonderful to watch him weave his magic and share his enthusiasm for the game.
East Dorset is very lucky to count Nigel as one of its members.
Roger Booth - Eynsham Croquet Club
Roger Booth
Roger joined the Eynsham Croquet Club in 2016, looking for a new challenge after overcoming a serious illness.
Since then, he has become one of the key members of the club, taking on many roles and responsibilities. His energy and enthusiasm have been key in progressing several initiatives within the club. Initially sourcing a club gazebo with logo and branding to keep the weather at bay in a drafty field. It is used to promote the club in the locality. Latterly he was key in helping the club fund a small clubhouse, which he helped to construct and equip internally. It is now a major part of club activities, helping it to expand club membership.
He developed a 3-year plan to improve the quality of our lawns, which has shown clear improvements as the plan has panned out. He is currently addressing the challenges presented by the winter flooding that the lawns have experienced. In doing so he has become the nearest thing the club has to a lawn expert, attending courses in lawn care.
In addition to his role as chief groundsman, he stepped forward to become the club secretary, taking on yet more responsibilities for marketing the club externally, updating the club website, Facebook pages and leading the club GC doubles team. He has been to the fore in organising taster sessions for local organisations to get the club and croquet better known. His administrative abilities are second to none.
His invaluable work has helped the club improve its competitiveness, now participating in 3 leagues. During this time, his GC handicap has reduced, and he is now entering B-class tournaments.
Roger's commitment and contribution to our club deserves the recognition of a Croquet England diploma.
Alison Murray - Leicester Croquet Club
Alison Murray
Alison Murray is a longstanding member of Leicester Croquet Club, taking on the role of Treasurer in 2015 and has been active in all areas of our club's development. She is a qualified GC coach and holds regular 'Learn to Play' sessions and is always ready to help club members wishing to improve their game and technique. Alison looks after and makes sure our website/Facebook page is up to date with news and events, and has been interviewed several times on local radio.
As well as this, Alison is passionate about her croquet and is an excellent player. She not only represents LCC in our Federation league, plays in national and other league competitions, but also had the privilege of playing for the England team at the European GC Women's Championship 2024. If that wasn't enough, Alison also organises our internal club competitions (fun or otherwise) and tournaments, providing cakes and her legendary cheese and chilli scones for those participating.
Leicester Croquet Club is very fortunate and values her energy, humour and the enthusiasm she applies to the administration of our organisation.
Sarah Andrew - Llanfairfechan Croquet Club
Sarah Andrew
I write to commend Dr Sarah Andrew for a CqE Diploma for her extensive and continuing work for the Club, formerly as Secretary and now Chairman, her contribution to the North West Fed, and her membership of and now Chair of Croquet England's (formerly the Croquet Association's) Funding Committee, all of which she manages to fit in around her other non-croquet voluntary and organisation committee work, involving a significant number of Zoom, Teams, etc. and physical presence meetings.
I write this from my perspective, but all new and existing members are offered exactly the same.
I first contacted the club to become a member in 2021, liaising with Sarah as the then Club Secretary. She organised the Open Days, ensuring forms were completed, including the then-obligatory COVID-19 tracking forms.
Having signed up, I was encouraged to take Sarah's eight-week introductory coaching course, and whilst there might have been a token nod to GC in the first two weeks, it was predominantly aimed at her love of AC by way of SC, to encourage new members into that code.
I was hooked like a fish and quickly assimilated into the SC squad by Sarah as the then team skipper, representing the club in Federation and other matches, and at the Southport Croquet Festival, all before I could toss a coin.
She leads by example with no job too lowly, ensuring loos are presentable for visitors, white lining, fertilising and top dressing the lawns, planning, supplying the obligatory coffee and walnut cake, etc.
On Croquet England's Funding committee, Sarah helps qualifying applicants receive suitable bursaries and clubs obtain funding for their activities.
As a further demonstration of Sarah's impact, if any were needed, on Friday July 25th 2025 all four short courts had members playing SC who had been coached by Sarah.
Alastair Proctor - Lodsworth Croquet Club
Alastair Proctor
Alistair Proctor was the founder of Lodsworth Croquet Club in 2012, when a group of friends visited an 'Open House' day at Woolbeding, near Midhurst, which has beautiful gardens and a croquet lawn. This inspired him to put the wheels in motion to set up our club. A feasibility study was undertaken, a poll in the village was completed to establish a need for such a club, and grants were applied for, with Alistair largely at the steering wheel.
Lodsworth Croquet Club officially began in 2013 after a considerable amount of hard work in research, fundraising and planning. The club was originally set up so that villagers could play croquet socially with friends and family. Over the past few years, many of our club members have become very good players, and we have been invited to play friendly and league matches with other clubs in the South East.
Alistair has been the Chairman of the club throughout, guiding a team of like-minded individuals in the development of the lawn and encouraging many in the area to take up croquet. We have one full-size competition croquet lawn, and in 2017, built our pavilion to make entertaining and social activities more enjoyable.
Since then, Lodsworth Croquet Club has gone from strength to strength. We have a strong membership of both social and active players, many of whom now play in inter-club matches and club competitions. Alistair has invited coaching aces Richard Carline and Stephen Mulliner to come over and offer coaching sessions to our members.
He has also been the driving force behind raising money for various charities that the club has supported over the last 11 years. With his encouragement and drive, we have raised approaching £12,000.
Chris Joslin - Maldon Croquet Club
Chris Joslin
Chris joined Maldon Croquet Club in 2013, just 2 years after the club started playing. Just a couple of years later, he rashly expressed an interest in taking over the vacant Club Captain role and was elected in March 2016. He has continued in that role ever since.
For most of his tenure, he has had sole responsibility for arranging and managing all aspects of the club's participation in East Anglian Croquet Federation leagues and CqE competitions, as well as all our internal competitions. He has organised a series of friendly matches against other clubs and our annual Club weekend at Ramsgate. He has also been the club handicapper for as long as anyone can remember.
Chris's workload increased significantly as the club grew, and we managed to find another volunteer to take over the internal competitions. Chris has always encouraged and nurtured the development of all members, especially newer ones, and has now taken over responsibility for organising the Club's coaching activities.
In addition to all this, Chris has always been an active and valuable committee member. He was instrumental in ensuring the club played as much as possible during the pandemic, which was of tremendous help to members in those difficult times. Soon after the pandemic, the new owner of our lawns told us we would have to move. Chris was a key member of the group charged with urgently finding us new premises for the 2023 season. He worked tirelessly, visiting many possible sites and arguing persuasively in favour of our new home, which has turned out to be a great success.
Chris has announced his intention to stand down from his Club Captain role in March 2026, thus completing 10 years of outstanding service. He has been a key figure in the development of our club.
Ellen Gee - Nottingham Croquet Club
Ellen Gee
Ellen joined Nottingham Croquet Club as a new member in 2001, perhaps originally to see what her teenage (and youngest) son Will was up to! This was before the days of formal safeguarding protocols. Ellen and her husband Malcolm completed the beginners' course and became competent players, but neither caught up with Will's meteoric progress through the AC and GC handicaps.
Ellen has a strong aptitude for organisation, which has been invaluable as she served on the club's committee and for the last ten years as club secretary. During this period, the club has more than doubled in membership and facilities, making it one of the largest in the country, and making the job more complex and demanding, especially for someone with a demanding job and a large family. Nevertheless, Ellen has proved reliable, well-organised, even-tempered, and sometimes persuasive, in a role which no one notices when it goes perfectly, as it nearly always has.
Ellen has also begun work on sourcing role descriptions for the club's many volunteer roles, creating a platform for us to do more effective volunteer recruitment, support and succession planning.
In recent years, Ellen has supported the Junior Squad at Nottingham, particularly the Wednesday after-school club and the programmes of school visits. She qualified as a club-level coach and undertook specific training for coaching children and safeguarding. Coaching juniors regularly also includes getting to know the children, being sensitive to safeguarding matters, and exercising pastoral skills, which Ellen has done with distinction.
Ellen also takes a full part in the social life of the club, both in season and out of season.
The club is indebted to Ellen and commends her for the Croquet England Diploma.
Cathy Turski - Nottingham Croquet Club
Cathy Turski
Cathy joined Nottingham Croquet Club as a new member in 2010 and quickly got to grips with Association Croquet, the main game then played at the club, and also Golf Croquet. It is in the latter code where Cathy's most notable contribution has been, organising teams, providing prolific coaching, managing tournaments, supporting and nurturing players, and in particular, in recent years, establishing and running a regular Thursday evening GC coaching session every week of the season - often the best attended event in the club's weekly calendar. She also invented and managed a GC club doubles day, which was a great success and has become an annual event.
Although supporting the development of GC has been Cathy's biggest contribution, she is an all-rounder and has continued to play AC and enter tournaments.
Cathy has also served for a period on the main club committee, and for longer on the handicap committee.
Another string to Cathy's bow has been organising and running our annual attendance at Nottingham's annual Splendour rock festival, where we are invited to offer free croquet to attendees, and in return receive a fee and some free tickets. This involves taking vans full of equipment, setting up hoops, boundaries and promotional materials on rather rough turf and helping festival goers of all ages to have a go at the sport. It has always been a great success.
Cathy also plays a full part in the social life of the club, including winter activities such as bridge playing (where she is formidable) and board games sessions.
The club is indebted to Cathy and commends her for the Croquet England Diploma.
Mike Bowser - Pinchbeck Croquet Club
Mike Bowser
When the family home was built in 2010, Mike had a full-size croquet lawn installed and set up a club affiliated to Croquet England in 2014. This meant, of course, that people from all walks of life were able to visit Mike's home to enjoy a game of croquet. Over time, membership has doubled to near full capacity today.
Mike and his wife Rachael hold annual club social events and meetings at their home. He lovingly maintains the lawn with regular watering and cutting, and constantly works to improve the playing area, resulting in one of the finest lawns, which is available for 9 months of the year.
He has provided and maintains the equipment and boarding around the boundary to retain balls, as well as ensuring the lawn is ready for both AC and GC matches and the annual Charity One-Ball heats. A small kitchen area attached to the house is available for players to help themselves to refreshments. He also welcomes visits from other clubs. He welcomes and supports all new players and provides encouragement to those players wishing to play competitively in regional leagues and CqE tournaments, as well as still being an active competitor himself.
Katharine Minchin - Rother Valley Croquet Club
Katharine Minchin
Katharine first joined in 2001, just a year after the club was founded at Duncton, West Sussex.
She threw herself into all aspects of the club, hosting Roll Up sessions when both Association and Golf croquet were played at the same time on the club's two full-size lawns. Katharine prefers Association Croquet but happy to play Golf Croquet to make up numbers.
Katharine has acted as both as Club Chairman and Committee member utilising her personal skills to get things done around the club.
She attended a coaching course at Sussex County so that she could help members improve their games and learn the rules. She devised coaching courses for new members, spread over several weeks to everyone's advantage. When the Croquet Academy was formed at Southwick, she was asked to be part of the Coaching Team and helped players from all over the country for many years. She is totally committed through her coaching skills and encouragement to increase the enjoyment of playing croquet for many.
Her name appears on the Club's Honours board for singles and doubles competitions several times, often choosing her doubles partners to boost their confidence.
Katharine is still active, especially playing AC in friendly games with other clubs, trying her hardest to increase the number playing AC.
The club has tremendously benefited from Katharine's organising skills and she has frequently produced three-course meals for club events as well as masterminding match teas for both Friendly and League matches.
Recently, Katharine has hosted Charity Sundays and raised hundreds of pounds for causes dear to individual members, Dystonia UK, Cancer Research, and Friends of St Richard's Hospital, Chichester.
Katharine's commitment to the Club and the wider croquet family over the last 25 years has been outstanding and fully worthy of being awarded a Croquet England Diploma.
David Smith - Rother Valley Croquet Club
David Smith
David Smith joined Rother Valley Croquet Club in 2001. During the last 24 years, he had taken on various roles and was an accomplished AC player, playing in league and friendly matches. His name appears on the Honours Board more than once.
David was Chairman (2010 and 2011) and a valued member of the committee for many years.
One of David's roles was as Fixtures Secretary. For twenty years, in January of each year, he would contact club secretaries, initially by telephone, to arrange the twenty or so friendly home and away matches with neighbouring clubs. The fixtures were spread throughout the summer to make sure that no GC, AC or League match clashed. He had just finished organising the 2025 Fixtures when he died suddenly in February.
An engineer by trade, his enthusiasm for DIY was legendary; he could 'fix' anything. His maintenance skills were of great benefit to the club, maintaining the Clubhouse and the Equipment Shed to a high standard and replacing rotten flooring in the clubhouse after one very wet winter.
During his 24 years at the club, David took complete control of white lining the lawns. He graduated from a wheel-to-wheel to a spray machine for which he built a shed complete with an electric charger. Over the years, he must have walked more than one hundred miles making sure that the white lines were pristine.
Such was David's commitment to the club that when there was a forecast for heavy frost, he would drive for 20 minutes to make sure that the water supply was turned off.
David is survived by Charlotte, who continues to play Golf Croquet.
Roy Tillcock - Ryde Croquet Club
Roy Tillcock
Roy was a club player in Reading, where he played Association Croquet. Then, following retirement to the Isle of Wight, he joined Ryde Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. He took the role of club secretary in 2001 and remained in that role until 2025, running both internal and external tournaments. During this period, he organised and managed many CA tournaments and encouraged Ryde to take up Golf Croquet. He has always been heavily involved in the life of the croquet club, doing grounds work, hoop setting, coaching and competitions, alongside his secretary role.
In 2018, he was asked to take on the role of Southern Croquet Federation GC Leagues Manager. Since then, he has run all the SCF GC leagues, from rules to recording match results on a database, to arbitration when difficulties have arisen!
In 2020, the World Croquet Federation set up a working group to devise an alternative form of handicap play to extra strokes. Roy had already done work on this form of play, which he had devised a computer simulation for. He called it NET - No Extra Turns.
One of the members of the WCF working group was aware of Roy's attempts at a change in the game, and he was invited to join the group. After much discussion, NET was selected as the basis for the new game and was renamed Advantage.
Following trials of Advantage in 2021 and a presentation to the WCF by Roy, Advantage was recognised as a GC handicap game that is now played worldwide. Following two years of evaluated feedback, revisions have been made by Roy, with him now chairing a subcommittee of the WCF dedicated to further development of the game. He also sits on the CqE Rules Committee.
Roy is a much-valued club member.
Angela Avis - Sussex County Croquet Club
Angela Avis
Angela has been a member of SCCC for eight years and has been an active player, organising a small Saturday morning group of players.
However, her most significant contribution lies in her activities on the catering front. For three years she has been one of a team of three heading the catering team, helping to plan the catering by identifying the number of diners expected at events (no simple task and involving a lot of work contacting various managers, etc.)
Her extensive cooking has been greatly appreciated by all who eat at our canteen, and her tipsy trifle is legendary. Angela is always cheerful and unflustered even when preparing lunch for more than 80 players at the AC Inter-Counties and other big events hosted by Southwick.
In addition, Angela has used her considerable needlework skills to make and hang bunting in the summer, which looks very inviting and improves our outward appearance by no small amount.
Furthermore, she has organised an annual one-day event for the Alzheimer's Society, where those with the disease and their helpers can have a fun day out.
She is always approachable, efficient and good-natured, and thoroughly deserving of a Croquet England diploma.
Kathleen Burt - Winterborne Valley Croquet Club
Kath Burt
Kathleen (Kath) Burt joined Kingston Maurward Croquet Club in the 1990s, playing both Association Croquet (AC) and Golf Croquet (GC). Despite having a busy professional life, Kath found time to become a qualified coach and referee. She generously shared her knowledge and passion for croquet with Kingston Maurward members and, more recently, at Winterborne Stickland Croquet Club.
Kath was introduced to croquet through the Dorset Federation of Women's Institutes (WI), participating in her first tournament in the early 1990s at Kingston Maurward in Dorchester. Her enthusiasm and leadership have been pivotal in the success of the Annual WI Croquet Tournament, now run for over 30 years. With tireless encouragement, she has inspired many WI members to take up and enjoy croquet.
Kath represented Kingston Maurward at Inter County matches, a stalwart in both AC and GC. When the club was asked to vacate Kingston Maurward, Kath played a key role in finding the new home at Winterborne Stickland - now thriving as Winterborne Valley Croquet Club. She has continued as a mentor to players there, fostering new talent and a strong club spirit.
Love for the game has taken her worldwide - Kath has proudly represented England in Dublin, Australia, and New Zealand, a testament to her skill and dedication. As a member of East Dorset Croquet Club, she has also embraced the social side of croquet while remaining a fierce competitor on the lawns.
Now approaching 80, Kath remains a formidable presence on the croquet court. Her spot-on accuracy and razor-sharp tactical mind are as sharp as ever, making her a challenging opponent and a valued teammate. Her legacy continues through the many players she has coached, mentored, and inspired - and in the vibrant croquet community she has helped build and sustain.
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