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Surrey Playing Fields News
Geoff Dunn
I am sorry to have to report that Geoff died on Sunday 6th December aged 87. He had spent the last 9 months bedridden, following his Alzheimer's diagnosis 3 years ago. His son has said that he had a pretty good innings, and Geoff and Sue led a full life well into their eighties.
The family are hoping to hold a memorial service once COVID-19 is under control so that those who want to can pay their respects, and honour Geoff’s enormous contribution to sport.
Geoff had been a pilot in the Royal Air Force. We tried to gain an interview on BBC Radio Surrey so that Geoff could explain about voluntary work in sport. It took place; but only because they wanted to hear about his experience in flying spitfires. Geoff was pleased to have installed a good flight simulator for spitfires on his home computer. When he left the RAF he joined the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a pilot. They had recruited more pilots than they required, so initially he flew as a navigator. He needed to retain his pilot’s licence. This meant that he sometimes flew light aircraft from White Waltham. This was at a time when there was an expansion of private flying and he told me of some experiences with raw pilots in the area. Geoff became a pilot within the company and used to say how much he enjoyed flying Boeing 747s. At one time he was based as a senior pilot for British Airways in South Asia/Australasia, and this is where he met several famous sportspeople.
At the start of the 1980s he joined the SCPFA as an Area Development Officer; he was still flying for BA at that time. He soon became the Director and then the Chairman from 1999 until 2009. He was then a Vice President until his death. The National Playing Fields Association recognised his work by awarding him a President’s Certificate in 2003. The award was made by the Duke of Edinburgh.
He had been an excellent cricketer and in his later years was a member of Abinger Sports Club and Surbiton Hockey Club. Being Geoff, he contributed to the development of both Clubs. He had considerable influence in respect of sport in general and the playing fields movement in both Surrey and the wider South East. He was a Ministers Representative on the South East Council for Sport and Recreation. When that organisation folded, he set up and chaired South East Sport. Having been on the management board of the Active Surrey Sports Partnership since its inception, he acted as their temporary chairman whilst they undertook a major reorganisation. Many clubs should thank him for the work he undertook on constitutions for community amateur sports clubs; his knowledge on artificial pitches has helped their spread in Surrey. His range of contacts has helped us secure the future of many playing fields and improve the facilities on many more.
All of us who have worked with him over so many years will remember Geoff for his achievements, and for just being Geoff, who has guided and cajoled us with so much patience. His skill in running a meeting and making all present think that they had made a significant contribution was a lesson to us all.
The photograph shows Geoff inspecting a Cricket Club as part of the “Best Kept Village Ground” Competition. It was a task he thoroughly enjoyed and one for which he was well qualified.
We shall miss him.
Edward Handley MBE Retirement March 2023.
We were very sorry when Edward told us that he was retiring from our organisation. His reasons were as he was coming up to 89 years old, he was not happy with meetings held on computers and that he had to rely on obtaining lifts to meetings away from Croydon.
It is impossible to do justice to what he has achieved in Croydon, Surrey and nationally. This tribute will just note the positions and achievements he has had for sports, the Playing Fields movement and Children’s Play.
Edward has been Chairman of Croydon Playing Fields Association for many years, where he has fought hard for the maintenance and improvement of grounds and sporting facilities in the area. This led to him being a council member of National Playing Fields Association (now known as Fields in Trust). He was not a quiet member, he stood up for the County Associations. He always attended the Counties Conference, where his views were heard and recognised as wise counsel.
Surrey gave him an award in 2018 which was well deserved. National Playing Fields Association held a Church Service in London to celebrate the Duke of Edinburgh’s 60 years with the Playing Fields movement. Edward Handley was one of four people from County Playing Fields Associations chosen to meet the Queen and the Duke after the service. His work was recognised despite his unassuming approach.
One of Edward’s great pleasures was cricket. He often went to Sanderstead, where he had played and to Addiscombe, which was close to his home. He is still President of the Surrey Schools Cricket Association. He really enjoys the lunch when Surrey schools play Sussex at Arundel.
Edward was Chairman of the Bench at East Croydon following Eric Cantona’s Kung Fu Kick at Crystal Palace; they imposed a severe penalty. Edward has not hit the headlines again since March 1995.
Edward, we thank you for everything you have done. We also remember how much your family has supported you, especially in sport and education in Croydon.
Award to Martin Maybrey BEM
The Trustees had agreed to honour Martin by making him a Vice-President. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend the Annual General Meeting in 2019. The award was made at the first executive meeting held in 2020. It was made by the Hon. Secretary, Heather Dean. He received a certificate and a tankard.
Martin has been a hard working member of Surrey Playing Fields for 40 years. He is the development officer for East Waverley and has supported many successful projects in the area. He is an active member of the community in Wonersh. Amongst other activities he has been groundsman at the cricket club, treasurer, umpire and volunteer barman. When he was awarded his BEM, the local paper ignored his many activities and wrote about “cricket club barman” awarded BEM”.
There are many organisations which have benefited from his expertise and hard work. One is the Surrey Cricket Foundation where he has worked with others to improve the quality of grounds in the County.
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
The voluntary organisation that promotes sport in Surrey and endeavours to safeguard the county’s playing fields and recreational open spaces, the Surrey Playing Fields Association, has been awarded The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2017. This award was created by The Queen in 2002 to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee, recognising excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. It is the MBE for volunteer groups. The Award brings with it a signed certificate from Her Majesty The Queen, an English crystal with the logo insignia and permission to use the official QAVS Logo.
The Surrey Playing Field’s Chairman, Gerry Ceaser, commented ‘The work that the Surrey Playing Fields does in the community was very much admired by the independent Assessment Committee, chaired by Sir Martyn Lewis CBE and we are delighted to be notified that we have been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. It is a tremendous achievement for all of us and we hope that everyone involved, and particularly our dedicated volunteers and all the local sports clubs in the county, feel immensely proud of the recognition that this Award represents’. The trophy was awarded on 30th November 2017. A full report will be made in our January newsletter.
The Surrey County Playing Fields Association, as it was previously known, was formed in 1927 and this year it is celebrating its 90th anniversary serving sport in the county. It is a registered charity and, as a purely voluntary organisation, all the funds it raises goes back into community sport. Besides giving advice, it gives bursaries to young people and, assuming they meet the criteria, it provides small grants to sports clubs and low interest loans for larger projects. During the period 2000 to 2016 the grants and loans support to community sports clubs in the county totalled well over £1,700,000.
Our local development officers for Surrey Playing Fields are keen to help to protect our precious recreational sites and we support the promotion of active lifestyles and local community sport. This website – www.surreyplayingfields.co.uk - gives more information about our work and our grants and loans to help clubs, it also includes our contact details. If we can be of any assistance, please get in touch
In Memoriam
Since we started this web site and producing newsletters, several important members of our charity have died. As an organization which is purely voluntary, it is important that we remember those who have contributed so much to our development.
They are people who have given much to other charities, sports and organisations within Surrey and the surrounding areas. There is not room to retain information on this site. Their obituaries are retained in the newsletters that can be down loaded from this site and from information lodged with the Surrey History Centre.
The following is a list in alphabetical order of those, where information is available, and it shows the highest position they held in the Surrey County Playing Fields Association.
A. J. (Sandy) Brigstocke Chairman
Gerry Ceaser Chairman
Dr Mike Clarke Area Development Officer
Geoff Dunn Chairman
Barry Hitchcock, MBE County Development Officer
Dr Robin Elsdon-Dew Director
Bob Kimmis Area Development Officer
Ernie Sears Area Development Officer
Bill Young First Director
We remember you with affection and with gratitude for all you achieved.
Surrey Playing Fields are looking for Borough Development Officers in the following Surrey Boroughs & Districts:
Epsom & Ewell
Guildford
Surrey Heath
Woking
The position of Borough Development Officer is a voluntary role and historically been taken up by those involved with local sport and are only too happy to be of value to the clubs in their area.
If you are interested in working in this area, please contact the Hon Secretary (SPF) at surreyplayingfields@gmail.com for further information and a job description.
Borough Development Officer – Job Specification
* Become familiar with SPF’s documentation and procedural processes with regard to grants and loans
* Inform clubs of the outcome of grant and loan applications and, where approved seek acceptance of same within the laid down timescales.
* Provide the Treasurer with the appropriate evidence from clubs that the authorised work/equipment has been carried out /obtained, including a copy of an invoice or irrevocable order to at least to the value of the SPF grant or loan and formally authorise him to make the relevant payment.
* Represent the Association at borough/district authority level and keep in contact with or attend meetings of local Sports Councils, where they exist and report on activities of interest to the Association.
* Watch social media and local press to be aware of any potential threat to sports facilities
* Refer planning and recreational matters, in particular open space and recreational land under threat, to the Planning Officer and Trustees. If guidance is required as to whether this is appropriate in a particular case, guidance may be sought from the Trustees who may in turn wish to seek further feedback from the Executive Committee
* As a member of the Association’s Executive Committee, attendance is expected on a regular basis at committee meetings, these are currently held a maximum of 6 times a year either in a traditional setting or remotely as circumstances demand.
Please contact the Hon. Secretary if you want more information on this voluntary position.
Duke of Edinburgh
(1921 - 2021)
The members of Surrey Playing Fields were very sorry to hear of the death of Prince Philip.
His first charity was the National Playing Fields Association. He was their President from October 1948 until April 2013.
He was a most active president of NPFA; but he never forgot the importance of the County Associations.
He stressed the importance of the partnership on many occassions. He used to present President's Certificates annually. These were for outstanding achievements in the playing fields movement. Several members from Surrey received them.
This photograph shows him speaking at the AGM of Surrey County Playing Fields Association when they reopened in 1949 after World War 2.