Pam Telford pictured left with Liz Nicholl (middle) and Jan Burke (right)
England Netball and the Netball Family have been saddened to learn of the passing of Pam Telford.
A key figure in taking our sport to new heights and elevating the experiences of all those involved, Pam was President of the English Schools National Association (ESNA) until 1994 when it merged with England Netball.
After over 25 years of selfless outstanding service within the netball community, Pam was awarded an England Netball Long Service Award in 2006 when she was part of the London and South East region.
She then moved to the South West where her passion, input and impact continued to be felt by all those she supported on and beyond the court.
Respected in netball circles across the country, Pam was further recognised for her dedication and achievements when she was named an England Netball Honorary Life Member.
Pam enjoyed a life-long love of netball, only retiring as the lead Competition Referee for the National Schools Finals prior to the 2024 event after having been involved both nationally and in the South West for over 40 years.
During this time, she played an instrumental role in establishing the competition as the biggest school netball competition in England.
In honour of her incredible contributions, the Endeavour Award, which is presented to the team which displays sportsmanship and respect throughout the tournament, was renamed the ‘Pam Telford Endeavour Award’ for 2024 onwards.
Pam will be dearly missed but remembered fondly by members of the Netball Family.
Our deepest condolences are with her many friends in the game and her family.
With the permission of Pam’s family, sharing the beautiful tribute to Pam read at her funeral.
Today we come together to remember and honour the life of a beloved relative and friend, Pam, whose generosity and kindness touched us all.
Pam was born to John and Elizabeth on 3 December 1954. She was an only child and had a happy childhood soon finding her absolute love of all sports, this was to stay with her for the rest of her life.
Following her A Levels Pam decided that her ideal job would be to teach sport. She attended Chelsea PE College in Eastbourne where she met her lifelong friends Maureen and her daughters Kate and Louisa.
Pam was the most selfless person, always giving up her own time to teach brownies, guides and rangers and of course the most important of all netball, the biggest love of her life achieving incredible accolades and success.
Pam taught at Bancroft’s School from 1987 to 2013. This was a job she absolutely adored and made many lasting friends many of whom are here today. Pam really enjoyed the foreign tours with both the school and netball whether that was for the sport, the sightseeing or the gin and tonics we don’t know. She loved to travel and would very often go to her family in Ireland with whom she was very close and she always came home telling of what a good craic she had had.
Pam retired in 2013 and moved away from London leaving behind lots of really good friends and the best neighbours in the world Mike, Diane and Seb. Pam moved to Wiltshire where she soon settled and joined SW Netball to continue her involvement in schools netball.
Her retirement plan was to buy an overseas property which she did in Gozo with Louisa and David. What fun we had with friends and family coming to visit. Maybe the fact that we had our own pool was the draw.
Pam then settled down to watching rather than playing sport, meeting up with friends and gardening. Sadly, she was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and fought a brave battle, never losing her sense of humour.
We will all cherish the memories we have of Pam and of our times together. She leaves us knowing how loved she was by us all. Till we meet again whenever and however that will be.
In memory of Pam, the family are collecting donations for Salisbury Hospice.
