Honorary Life Members

Role(s) in Netball: Officiating, Coach and administrative

Year HLM awarded: 2018

Alan has been involved in netball since 1977. He gained the top national umpiring ‘A’ Award in 1991, is a qualified Umpire Assessor and Tutor.

As a qualified coach he had several coaching appointments at both club and county level. Alan has served on National, European and International Umpiring committees in various capacities and was appointed as a volunteer at the 1995 Netball World Championships in Birmingham and again at 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

He is Director of Officiating for the Netball Europe Board and was recently appointed by the International Federation as the Regional Officiating coordinator. A member of the Netball Europe Awards working group and Chair of the Netball Europe Officiating working group.

In these roles, Alan has worked with EN and other countries to restructure and redefine the role of officiating in Europe. He was a member of the Education and Training committee for 10 years and drafted the first Umpiring competencies for assessment.

He has helped numerous umpires and worked with UK based officials. He has also extended his reach abroad tutoring and assessing in Gibraltar, Sweden, Switzerland and Stockholm.

Alan is a great ambassador for Netball and is respected for his knowledge of officiating throughout the netball world.

Role(s) in Netball: EN Board and Player, Coaching and Committee Roles

Year HLM awarded: 1993

Nora Ashworth celebrated her 90th birthday at the Netball World Cup 2019 in Liverpool and her involvement in netball in both England and South Africa spans 72 years and counting.

Nora was a player at all levels of the game starting in 1947 with Downs Netball Club (called Ursuline Old Girls until 1950)
Surrey County from 1948 to 1956 and played for her country in 1955 and 1956, including the first England tour to South Africa in 1956.

Nora started teaching in 1950 and from 1956 to 1964 lived in South Africa. She played for both Comets NC, Johannesburg 1957 – 1964 and for Southern Transvaal province from 1957-1964.

Alongside her playing career Nora achieved her Panel Umpire Award (A Award) in 1963 and therefore was able to umpire at the first Netball World Tournament in 1963, in Eastbourne.

As a teacher Nora coached netball at her schools in England as well as King David High School in Johannesburg. She coached Southern Transvaal Schools’ and Senior Netball Teams, Greaterman’s Netball Club, Johannesburg and was part of the coaching team for the England tour of South Africa in 1966.

Her long post playing contribution to netball has been primarily as a volunteer administrator at county, region, national and international levels.

1987 – South East Region – Long Service Award
1980 – Surrey Vice-President
1964 – South Africa Meritorious Award.

Year HLM awarded: 2020

Gary Burgess began his career as a netball umpire in 1998 in the Bedfordshire and District Netball League and since then he has gone on to umpire in the Vitality Netball Superleague and for his country internationally.

Gary is a former PE teacher from Bedfordshire who left his career in teaching to pursue the role of Head of Officiating at England Netball in September 2016.

In a voluntary capacity, he has been involved over the years in many new initiatives to support umpires with their Netball Europe written assessment and restructuring the NE written papers. He also finds time to volunteer as an umpire locally and his dedication to the role has seen him progress to officiate at some of the most prestigious international netball matches in the world.

Gary’s umpire career spans over 20 years (10 years as an international umpire) and includes:

• Started umpiring in 1998
• Selected as a Superleague umpire from 2007 – he has umpired 11 consecutive Vitality Netball Superleague finals
• Achieved International Umpire status in 2009
• Appointed to officiate at three World Cup finals 2011 in Singapore, 2015 in Sydney and Liverpool 2019.
• Officiated at 3 Commonwealth Games in 2010 in Delhi (umpired gold match final), 2014 in Glasgow (umpired gold match final) and 2018 in Australia
• Voted England Netball Umpire of the Year eight times
• Officiated over 100 international matches
• 2016 – inducted into the England Netball Hall of Fame
• 2016 to present – member of Netball Europe officiating groups responsible for developing the officiating pathway, review of the B and A award written paper and supporting resources.

Gary’s achievements as an umpire are outstanding and he is a great ambassador and role model for England Netball and officiating. He has the skill to interact effectively with umpires, coaches and players and is a respected umpire throughout the country and worldwide.

Role(s) in Netball: Committee roles and Event Volunteer

Year HLM awarded: 2018

Maureen’s involvement in netball spans almost 45 years and covers every aspect of our game.

Like so many volunteers she was initially a player, then qualified as a club coach and umpire, moving on to umpire tutoring and testing, and then as a Superleague Table official at Brunel and Surrey Storm. As significantly, Maureen has also been administrating and promoting netball, alongside these technical roles, for the majority of the 45 years.
She has served on local league committees, Surrey county committee (where she is now President) and the Regional Board – often simultaneously.

Maureen has been a member of the London and South East Regional Board for over 30 years initially as the Surrey representative, then as its vice chair for 10 years before taking on the role of chair in 2015.

From grassroots primary school competitions to national tournaments (the Inter-counties when they were held at Anerley) and London Youth Games netball: Maureen was key to their smooth running.

A consummate organiser and hostess, she has project managed major netball events welcoming international and national sides to Crystal Palace. More recently she has galvanised support from the netball family in staging highly successful annual Regional Celebration Days which have grown year on year.

Maureen volunteered for England Netball at the 1995 World Championships in Birmingham. Her professional approach and unwavering support to the communications around this event did not go unnoticed.

Finally, she is one of those lovely people who is a natural networker and has a genuine ability to persuade others to volunteer and get involved. Once you are involved then you might find it difficult to get away. You are on her contacts list forever!

Always professional in whatever she does, Maureen has represented our sport impeccably at all levels of the game.

Year HLM awarded: 2020

Paul first joined England Netball as a volunteer member of the EN Board in 2006 and he went on to lead England Netball as CEO from 2008 until 2014.

He joined the Board of the VSNL franchise Mavericks in 2015 later becoming its chair. Paul assisted with the setting up of performance structures at the club and also secured sponsorship funding.

After becoming an RMB member in 2015, Paul was elected as Chair of Netball East in 2018. In just two years Paul has made an impact – fulfilling the role with energy and using his strong leadership skills to drive change. He is very supportive of the current EN strategy and ambition; always acting as a strong ambassador for England Netball.

As a volunteer and senior executive, Paul has had significant influence on strategy and change both regionally, nationally and internationally.

• Paul led the transformational 10:1:1 strategy and developed the participant-centred approach.
• The Award winning Back to Netball programme emerged from this strategy
• The strategy also secured from Sport England a grant of £25m in 2013 and provided the platform for all the great things achieved by netball in recent years.
• Paul’s review of how netball was governed and organised to benefit the netball family in the East region led to a re-draft of the Regional Constitution and the terms of reference for all the Technical Support Groups – basing membership of groups on competence rather than representation.
• In 2019, Paul revised the Regional Planning Guidelines which were adopted and are used by England Netball and all the regions. This included the Sport England Governance Code Tier 1 Health Check Self-Assessment process for regions and counties. The new template was adopted by England Netball and used in the latest round of self-assessment in 2019/2020.
• Working with the International Federation and representatives from Manchester City Council & UK Sport, Paul made a significant contribution to the development of Fastnet. The event was launched in Manchester in 2010 and evolved over time into Fast 5, which is currently played nationally and internationally.
• In 2014, England Netball won the Sports Industry National Governing Body of Sport of the Year, raising the profile of both the sport and its work as an NGB.
• Paul led the team to bid for and win the hosting rights for the Netball World Cup in Liverpool in 2019. This included Host City evaluation and selection, securing Major Event funding from UK sport, preparing the bid with colleagues from Liverpool and UK Sport, submission of the bid to the International Federation and ultimately, the presentation of the bid in Auckland in November 2014 to the International Netball Federation Panel.

Paul has not only become hooked on the game of netball since 2006 but gained the respect of many in the Netball Family – nationally and internationally. His hard work and dedication are appreciated and recognised in 2020.

Role(s) in Netball: EN Board, Coach and Committee roles

Year HLM awarded: 2018

Sue first came into netball prominence in the early 1980s in the Nottinghamshire area of the East Midlands. She started as assistant netball coach to the County u16s and U18s in 1982 and then, on qualification, went on to be lead coach in the county for the next 14 years.

She joined the Regional Management Board in 1992 fulfilling a whole host of roles from Coaching Secretary to organizing Regional Inter-Counties, County Schools & other competitions, as well as coaching & scouting workshops plus a short spell as Treasurer.

Sue served on the Board of England Netball from 2001 to 2004 and chaired the National Coaching Advisory Group. She received an England Netball Long Service Award in 2012.

During her coaching days with the County U16/U18s, Sue supported and developed several young players who went on to represent not only their Region but their country in all age groups.

More recently she has taken on the role of coaching TSG chair (in addition to her other regional roles) to re-empower and drive coaches and coach education within the region after a period of isolation and apathy.

Within a very short period, Sue had received feedback from all coaches within the region and a coaching day was organized with excellent reviews on the organisation and outcomes. She followed this up with much needed scout training workshops – transforming the reputations and skills of attendees.

As a Regional Board Member, Sue has been called ‘a gem and a diamond. Knowledgeable, thorough, empathetic, and always willing to step up to help: a team player who wants the best for all members’.

Without Sue’s support and willingness to participate, many of regional initiatives would not have come to fruition. A truly inspirational member of any team who checks and challenges with an open equitable attitude always.

Year HLM awarded: 2020

Jean describes her passion for netball as coming from her own experiences playing school netball in Cheshire and representative opportunities for Cornwall and the west region. She also says she is passionate about helping England, in any small way, to become no.1 in the world.

Jean has shown a lifelong dedication to high performance netball development, ranging from local to regional and Superleague (Team Bath), national to international levels.

She has served as a player, coach, mentor to players and coaches, coordinator and innovator of new and existing programmes, selector and board member on numerous committees.

As an innovator with inspirational leadership skills and a player development focus, Jean is respected by all. Jean always ensures her understanding of the game is maintained at the highest level through her own professional development and this knowledge is willingly passed on to those she coaches.

Her open pride in following the successes of players she has worked with is clearly reflected in those same players who return to continue and further the legacy Jean had started.

Her continued commitment to numerous management and developmental netball committees at regional and national levels is another facet of her lifelong dedication. This includes her current role as the Roses National Academy Selection chair.

In 2011 and 2012 and in partnership with the British Council, Jean volunteered as lead coach in the development of netball in Ethiopia. She worked with over 40 Ethiopian teachers empowering them to further develop the game in a fun and supportive environment, in very limited and difficult circumstances. This has led to the legacy of netball being played in many schools and regions in Ethiopia, with regular inter-area tournaments.

Upholding the England Netball values throughout, Jean gives unstintingly of her time and is quiet and unassuming of her own successes. An outstanding ambassador for netball, always having her players at the heart of everything she does.

Jean was described by a local netballer in Cornwall as ‘a very special lady who has had a positive impact on so many people involved in netball over the years, she really is one of a kind.’

Role(s) in Netball: Officiating

Year HLM awarded: TBC

In a recent application for a netball international appointment – Margaret was described by a young participant at an England Netball Officiating conference as ’excellent session – a role model to aspire to.’ This comment sums up Margaret beautifully.

She lives in Berkshire and it is in this county that she has been based for most of her netball career. She passed her intermediate umpiring award in 1983, her A award in 1987 and then was accredited as an international umpire in June 1991 – incidentally at a match with a vociferously supportive colleague on the other side of the court – known to us all as Sheelagh Redpath. From that early date netball officiating has been her passion.

Margaret has umpired over 100 international games, including 3 World Cups, 1 World Youth Tournament and 1 Commonwealth Games, being selected to umpire the final at all 3 tournaments.

When she hung up her international whistle, she moved across to mentoring, leading courses and assessing ‘up and coming’ officiating talent.

In international competitions, focus is often directed to the physical challenges of umpiring but with the prospect of being required to assess up to 5 matches a day, an assessor will be under similar levels of pressure. The level of concentration required is extremely demanding.

Margaret has been a member of the International Umpire Appointments Panel at 2 World Cups, 2 World Youth Cups, several Netball Europe tournaments and 4 Africa Netball tournaments. Some of the first African A award umpires received accreditation thanks to her time, tuition and guidance.

As well as living a fast and global netball lifestyle – Margaret might also be spotted turning up quietly and unobtrusively as a volunteer delivering a local league’s Rules Forum. Margaret was appointed to the position of Umpire Appointment Panel Chair for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Role(s) in Netball: Coaching

Year HLM awarded: 2016

Beginning her netball career at the tender age of 6 (using a net attached to an outside toilet wall), Denise played as often as she could while at school, often training every evening and that relentless commitment has continued to this day.

Those that know Denise today, will recognise that fitness is a top priority for her. To be fit for her county netball matches she played badminton and was a 800m runner and high jumper (for her county as well). She played hockey, rounders and taught herself to play tennis from a book.

When she studied teaching in Hull, she met the then England Coaching director, Janet Andrews and when she started her teaching career in Sunderland, she also met Lily McGurk (arguably the best netball coach of the time). Both convinced her she had exciting prospects as a coach and she qualified the top accreditation by the age of 28.
Denise started as Durham county coach and then over the years has coached her school teams to win EN’s National Schools’ tournament in every age group. Many of her young players going on to be part of the national netball academies and squads.

She when on to coach the National Squad at Netball Europe events winning Gold Medals and one Commonwealth third place. More recently she coached the Team Northumbria Superleague team and then, following being part of the 2016 selection panel was appointed chair of the National Selectors panel.
Chosen to carry the Olympic Torch for Durham in 2012.

In 2017, whilst on holiday she stepped in to support the England U21 squad in Botswana when the lead coaches were unwell in bed for three days.

Nicknamed, every ready or Polyfilla, meaning always willing to do anything needed. Denise is quoted as having said ‘A great coach needs to have the ability to lead and be able to consider each individual as unique offering assistance and guidance when necessary.’

Many of the netball family will agree wholeheartedly that this has been and continues to be, Denise’s approach at every level of the game.

Role(s) in Netball: Officiating

Year HLM awarded: 2018

Heather has, for over 37 years, been dedicated and passionate about developing and improving officiating at every level of the game, from grassroots through to the international stage. She started netball in Derbyshire and from those early years as a local official went on to gain her International Umpires Award.

Heather still visits local leagues to share her wisdom at rules forums and to keep up with the views of grassroots umpires. She has acted as County Umpiring Secretary for over 20 years, Regional Umpiring Secretary for 18 years and is a member of both her Region and County Management Boards.

She won the 2010 National Goalden Globe Award for Officiating. Following her retirement from the international stage, she is a valued member of the Vitality Netball Superleague Assessors Panel and the International Netball Federation’s International Umpiring Appointment and Assessors panel. Her role is to identify and train elite umpires from across the world and provide a succession process and pool of candidate for the future international officiating duties.

Heather is highly respected and welcomed wherever her role takes her in the UK, Europe and to nations in Africa. EN reaps the benefits of such a valued ambassador.

Her personal high expectations and enthusiasm for netball means that she is forever driving up standards to develop the game, particularly across officiating.

In her own words she insists that ‘The assessment of umpires is essential to ensure consistency of performance. The game is getting faster and more technically demanding and umpires must be able to cope with this, knowing their strengths and weaknesses is key.’

Role(s) in Netball: Committee Roles

Year HLM awarded: 2016

Pam began her netball career in West Yorkshire in the 1970s. She was part of the committee that set up the West Yorkshire senior league centred around Bradford.

Always interested in Competition and Events, she helped to form and continues to promote and organise, the Northern League which is a competition for the top teams in Yorkshire, the North East and North West preparing them for competition in the National Premier League.

Many northern sides agree that they owe their success at national level to this competition.
Pam was the local organiser for England and other high-profile matches visiting Yorkshire and the North, including the England U21s V New Zealand match at Huddersfield in 1992.

In 1995 she joined the National Match & Tournament Committee. When all the changes to our competitive structure were being formulated, she was heavily involved in the discussions on the impact of those changes to the future County and Regional competitive structure in the north.

Pam went on to become a senior manager of the School Sports Partnership for Bradford East promoting netball across the area and was one of the authors of England Netball’s original handbook on High 5 netball.
She has been chair and a member of the West Yorkshire county committee since 1995 until she stepped up to take on the chair and treasurer role for the Yorkshire and Humberside Region in 2008.

As regional chair and one of the lead volunteers, she was involved with set up and the 11-year involvement of Yorkshire Jets in the Netball SuperLeague.

Pam is highly respected by the netball family not only from her own county and region but also by her fellow regional chairs and national colleagues. Her professionalism, dedication and commitment to the promotion of netball especially through competition and events is greatly appreciated.

Role(s) in Netball: Officiating and Committee Roles

Year HLM awarded: 2016

Sue began her career in Nottinghamshire in the 1980s and since that time has supported and championed all aspects of netball. In her various roles she been a great advocate of volunteers, umpires, coaches and players. But her specific passion has been and continues to be officiating.

An A award and Panel umpire herself since the early 1990s she is an England Netball tutor, assessor, tester and mentor. In her spare time, she also enjoys her role as an intrepid match reporter.

Still a member of her county netball association, Sue was elected to the regional management Board in 2000 serving as treasurer, secretary and vice chair before becoming chair in 2009. In 2013 she oversaw the radical restructure of the RMB.

She played a major part in organising and delivering her region’s first Umpires and Coaches Conference attended by nearly 60 people and also delivered its first Back to Netball Tournament.

As a champion of volunteers across her Region of the East Midlands, whether as a sounding board or trusted adviser – Sue delights in ensuring that they are supported and kept informed.

Sue is also a valued member of the EN volunteer network providing advice and support to national staff and volunteers.

Whilst Sue clearly demonstrates superb leadership and commitment to England Netball and the Region – she will always find time to support local leagues and individual umpires.

Year HLM awarded: 2020

Karen Jones is an exceptional individual who has provided outstanding services to netball at national, regional and county level in a variety of roles over the past 30 years.

She is an active A Award umpire and mentor, a previous winner of the Muriel McNally Award and a holder of the EN Long Service award.

Karen chairs the South West Regional Management Board with outstanding leadership skills and a clear and innovative vision ‘to be the number one sport for women and girls in the South West and to establish netball as the first-choice sport for women and girls either as a player, coach, official or volunteer and across all levels of the game’.

She ensures the region meets any targets set by England Netball alongside the needs of SW members.

“The consummate professional… she gives unstintingly of her time to ensure netball is upheld as a leading sport, offering opportunities for all” – Mrs Denise May MBE, President Netball South West

Karen is not afraid to take decisions which push people out of their comfort zone. She has built a successful regional management board, appointing members offering a wide range of skills from within and outside of the Netball Family, and encourages everyone to take ownership of their responsibilities. In return she acknowledges, shares and promotes their successes along the way, developing a strong and energetic team whom she sees as her extended family.

Over the 11 years that Karen has been SW Chair, she has always been a fully committed and contributing member of the EN Regional Chairs Forum. As part of this commitment, Karen is very supportive of the England Netball senior staff team and is always enthusiastic to promote any new or national pilots initiated by England Netball.

Karen’s professionalism has ensured that she always upholds the England Netball values and is a worthy advocate and role model.

Warm in nature, Karen encourages all to do their best and strive for excellence, whether that is as a player, official or board/committee member. She is highly respected by everyone who works with her.

Thank you for your caring and unique commitment to netball and netballers – in the South West and nationally.

Role(s) in Netball: Committee Roles

Year HLM awarded: 2019

Gloria has been involved in netball since the age of 9 and part of Bedfordshire County in varying roles for the last 50 years.

At the height of a netball season she can dedicate over 40 hours a week to netball as a volunteering her roles at County, Regional and National levels.

In her role as County Chair she is one of the longest serving in this role and over that time has been well known for respecting traditional netball values and embracing change with equal enthusiasm.

The founding member of what is now known as Saracens Mavericks, she has been a longstanding member of the East Regional Management Board and has support EN with several projects including Superleague competition, facilities and projects with Sport England.

She was the winner of BBC East’s Unsung Hero Award in 2013 and former England player and coach Karen Atkinson MBE, once referred to her as ‘the heart and soul of Mavericks’ and she spearheaded the current partnership with Saracens Rugby Club to fuel the growth of netball in the East.

Gloria has said that ‘the camaraderie of netball is second to none. It is a team sport and you rely on others. Netball isn’t just about developing talented players, it’s about developing everyone including match day volunteers.

Role(s) in Netball: Officiating and Committee Roles

Year HLM awarded: TBC

Jane has held many club management positions since the 1980s although it is for officiating that she is best known. She has been her County’s Umpiring secretary since 1984, is a key and valued member of the London and South East Region Management Board and has chaired its very successful Officiating TSG since its inception in 2010.
Jane is currently the volunteer chair of the England Netball Youth Trust.

Internationally, she has been supporting USA Netball as an umpiring tutor, Arbitrator and National Championship referee since 1992.

A lawyer by profession, Jane is known and respected by all who meet her. She continues to run umpiring courses and mentor officials both locally and nationally to improve their skills and gain qualifications.

As a director of the Redbridge Sports Centre Trust, she was an influential member of the partnership team that secured the Centre as both an indoor and outdoor hub for netball in East London as part of the London 2012 legacy.

A shining example of what all volunteers should be – positive, supportive and equitable in her deliberations with everyone involved in netball at all levels of our game.

Role(s) in Netball: Officiating and international supporter

Year HLM awarded: 2018

Maureen started inspiring young netballers in Middlesex in the early 1970s. A brilliant team leader who captained a championship winning County first team. Whilst still playing, this person attained her Panel Umpiring Award in the early 1980s.

She umpired the netball final of the second World Games (the alternative competition for sports not competing in the Olympics) in 1985 at Crystal Palace.

As an international umpire, she officiated at Netball Europe games for all age groups and toured over several years to the Caribbean, Australia, Spain and Canada with the national U21 squad. She umpired the U21 World Youth Championship finals in Fiji in 1992 between Australia and New Zealand.

After retiring from the international umpiring stage, Maureen became u21 National Team Manager supporting various National under 21 coaches including Denise Egan and Mary Beardwood. She considered attendance at squad training sessions as a privilege and her wealth of knowledge and experience was an inspiration to all those, athletes and coaches alike, who were fortunate enough to work with her.

Maureen championed and supported many young athletes – Pamela Cookey, Karen Grieg, Kat Ratnapala, Lisa Stansfield and many more.

She has always been very approachable and would lead lively discussions on the various interpretations of the rules helping to foster excellent relationships between players, coaches and umpires.

Always ambitious, Maureen achieved accredited international match table official status in the mid-1990s and since then has led table officials at a host of international matches and tournaments as well as being a stalwart on the Mavericks table.

An ardent England supporter, this person has attended all bar one of the Netball World Championships and Cups, since the inaugural competition in 1963. Not to be outdone in her mature years, she volunteered as a pivoteer in Liverpool.

Mary Beardwood, Commonwealth Bronze medal winning England National coach and current National selector says of this person, ‘I have known Maureen for over 40 years and have been very fortunate to be involved with her on the International stage. Her achievements are truly exceptional.

She has clearly demonstrated throughout her netball career the pursuit of excellence which inspired me as a youngster all those years ago. In addition, she embodies the values of England Netball – respect, teamwork, achievement and fun’.

Role (s) in Netball: Former England Rose, Coach and various Performance roles

Year HLM awarded: TBC

Olivia played for Linden Netball Club, Derbyshire County and first represented her country at the World Youth Netball Championship in Toronto in 1996 when the England squad won a bronze medal. She holds 95 international CAPs and has two Commonwealth Games bronze medals.

Olivia captained her country from 2000 – 2006, nicknamed ‘Captain Fantastic’ by one journalist in 2003.

Described as someone who has spent her life juggling, sport, education and trying to have a social life – organisation and balance had been drilled into Olivia from an early age.

In 1998 she successful graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Economics with Accountancy and won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games the same year. The first where netball was played.

An influential and passionate advocate for Loughborough Lightening, she represented the franchise in the first Netball Superleague back in 2006, initially as team captain but then going on to become player – coach and coach until 2011.

Currently Olivia is Head of Netball and a senior performance programme manager at Loughborough University.

In an interview she advised young athletes; ‘Trust yourself, push the boundaries, be organised and you can be successful in whatever you choose to do.’ She has certainly followed this advice herself to become a living legend of our game.

Role(s) in Netball: Coach and Scout

Year HLM awarded: 2017

Gilly’s passion has been in sport where she achieved the highest levels in netball in the early 80s playing for England and was selected as the Young England Captain (U23) before moving on to becoming a coach within Talent and Performance and a Premier League Club Coach.

An EN Level 3 Coach and also holds a diploma in performance coaching and an international assessor accreditation. Gilly has been a Head Coach of Hucclecote Netball Club since 1988 moving on to coach at entry level for her netball county.

Gilly has been spotting talent as a national and regional scout since 1999, was an England Talent and Performance Coach for the U17s and U19s in the early 2000s and has led for many years national talent camps in the South West and West Midlands. Many of the young athletes she has ‘spotted’ over the years are in or have been in the national England and Wales squads.

She has built international netball relationships with the Inter Gulf States Netball Tournament and Bahrain Netball Club. This initiative has seen the exchange of players, coaches and umpires from the South West, enabling many to experience netball overseas.

Gilly was the President of Netball South West and has been a long-standing board member of both Gloucestershire Netball County Association and Active Gloucestershire.

Throughout her netball career and as an England selector, she advocates that netball must be available to all ability and young people from every background.

Year departed: 2015

Role(s) in Netball: EN Player, Coaching and Committee roles

Year HLM awarded: 1981

Mary started playing Netball at Mary Datchelor Girls School and then Dartford PE College from 1943-46 and taught PE in Surrey and Middlesex for over 40 years.

Gained Preliminary Umpiring Award whilst at school and played in Surrey League for MDOG and at Lincolns Inn on Thursday Lunchtime.

1945 – GK for Surrey County
Circa 1945 – Involved in the establishment of Welsh Netball
1949-57 – GD in first England Netball team and continued playing for England for 6 years and held the role of Captain
1956 – Member of team on first tour to South Africa
Held various roles within England Netball, England Selector, National Technical Officer
1963 – 1st World Championship in England was a volunteer selling merchandise
1966 – Tour to South Africa
1967 – 1975 – England Coach
1967 – Coach – 2nd World Championship in Australia – England finished 4th
1971 – Coach 3rd World Championship in Jamaica – England finished 3rd
1971 – 1983 – Membership of the UK committee before it became FENA/Netball Europe
1975 – Coach 4th World Championship England finished 2nd
1967 – 1979 – National Technical Officer and Selection Committee
1979 – Umpiring committee and selection
1984 – 1986 – Welsh Netball Coach
1987 – 1994 – Member of the UK and Ireland Umpiring Committee before it became FENA/Netball Europe
2001 – EN Hall of Fame
2010 – Netball Europe Service Award
2011 – EN Lifetime Achievement Award

Mary instigated events and developed netball for emerging countries in Europe and she has authored and edited books about Netball.

Mary attended 13 different World Netball Championships, over 53 years and travelled to 7 different countries. She was born on 13 February 1926, the day after EN’s birth!

Role(s) in Netball: Committee roles, Officiating and Event Volunteer

Year HLM awarded: 2019

Angela was involved in netball as a volunteer from the 1960s. She grew up in Nottingham playing both county level netball and table tennis.

She moved to live in Greater Manchester undertaking many netball administrative roles for which she received a long service award as long ago as 1993.

She relinquished her role as the Greater Manchester County Netball Association’s Umpiring Secretary in 2008 after dedicating 24 years of service. Angela also acted as tournament referee at county rounds of the National Schools tournament for much of that time.

At a regional level, she served as Match & Tournament Secretary, Treasurer and manager of the senior regional squads. She was responsible for the ‘territorial’ tournaments when the five counties of the North West played against one another.

At a national level Angela was Results Secretary for the English Counties League and for 12 years until 2005 was a member of EN’s Match and Tournament Committee.

Angela led many national event organising committees in the days when events were hosted and run by local volunteers in their entirety.

She was also a volunteer or technical official at Alex Barlass tournaments (known today as National Schools), the Somerset Plate (National Clubs), numerous England test matches and the Commonwealth Games 2002.