Surrey Playing Fields Annual Review 2019

 

At the end of November, the Association held its Annual General Meeting at Surrey FA headquarters in Dorking. The Association’s President, Michael More-Molyneux, Lord Lieutenant, chaired the meeting.

The meeting started with attendees standing in silence in memory of Barry Hitchcock, the County Development Officer for SPF, who had achieved so much for the improvement of sport in Surrey and nationally. His work for university sport had been outstanding.

The role of the organisation working with sporting and leisure organisations in Surrey was highlighted. Recent newspaper reports have referenced some of the areas. A report on Godalming Sports Council awards mentioned the Young Volunteer Award. This, Robin Elsdon-Dew award, is sponsored by Surrey Playing Fields and is available to all Sports Councils. There was a photograph of the junior team from the Guildford table tennis league. One of those players receives a sports bursary from the Association. This year 32 bursaries totaling £5,518 were granted to young coaches and athletes covering 15 sports.

In 2019 the organization made 25 grants for improvements to sports and leisure facilities. One low interest rate loan was made. This brings the clubs benefitting from loan support up to 14. There is significant money available for loans if required.

The Chairman, Councillor Robert Evans, stated that after 92 years, the Association still had a significant role in the County. They are still the only playing fields association in the country to have received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The many local volunteers, who know their areas well, mean that that we are of assistance to county organisations, sports clubs and many others.

The breadth of the work was highlighted by the awards and presentations made at the end of the meeting. Mrs. Zandra Ceaser gave the Gerry Ceaser Fair Play Award to Waverley Borough Council. Gerry was the founder and patron of Surrey Youth Games. The Association provides a certificate and cheque for the team that won the award at the games. The money is for improvement of youth sport in the winning Borough.

David Gill, the retired Director, is well known in Waverley and Surrey for his contribution to sport and leisure. The Association was pleased to make him a Vice-President – a small tribute for all he has achieved.

The meeting closed with 2 short talks. Jason Bastable is the current World Blind Golf Champion. He is hoping that his treatment will allow him to retain 10% vision. Until he started to lose his sight he was a butcher. When he could no longer work, he needed a hobby which started with going to a driving range. With encouragement he moved to playing on a normal course with the support of a specialist caddy. Having explained how guidance was provided, he demonstrated how he controlled the length of his putts. He hopes to compete in next year’s World Championship in South Africa.

The second talk was given by Chris Finill. He has completed all the London Marathons and taken part in the Marathon which was used to test the course for the London Olympics. In 2018 he completed the course having been tripped and nursing a badly damaged shoulder. He brought all his London Marathon medals for us to look at.

These talks were an inspiration to everyone present. They reminded us why we give our time to make sport and leisure available to people of all ages, ability and level of fitness.

If anyone is interested in obtaining support from the organisation or if they would like to assist it, please look at the web site www.surreyplayingfields.co.uk .

Lionel James Faulkner, BEM
Patron, Surrey Playing Fields