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 My
Background:
I was born in Bromley, attended the County Grammar
School and was brought-up in an atmosphere of sport and competition, my
father being a keen sportsman who taught sport as one of his subjects.
Ballet and then hockey were the loves of my youth, but as an adult I
have preferred outdoor pursuits such as camping and hill walking and
being a Guider for many years enabled me to try my hand at
rock-climbing, abseiling and the like, with various degrees of success!
I've
been involved with Blackheath Harriers since 1973 and quickly found
myself a member of the doughty band of enthusiastic ladies operating
under the title of Blackheath Harriers Social Club, lead by the
wonderful Brenda Brent. We paid the grand sum of £1.00. per year for the
privilege of devoting our spare time - willingly given I might add,
raising funds for the Club, to which we could not belong! We had a lot
of fun, a great social life and made many good
&
long-standing friends. Our
achievements gave us much satisfaction and I would like to think that
all volunteers within this Club could derive pleasure from their
efforts.
From
then I gradually became immersed in the Club, not wearing the Club vest
(although I've washed a few thousand!) but with all of the family active
members of either Blackheath Harriers or Bromley Ladies, my fate was
sealed and I have been fund-raising, helping, organising or supporting
ever since. Even to this day the first dates entered in the family
calendar, after birthdays, are the athletic fixtures and social
functions of Blackheath and Bromley! - get a life!! And I can tell you
that there isn't much I don't know about the minutiae of a javelin
thrower's training schedule!
I
became a 'season ticket holder' of the Club, watching and supporting
Track and Field League matches and Cross Country races all over the UK.
In
Colin's Presidential year I had a marvellous time meeting people in all
branches of athletics across the country, John Walker and Gordon Pirie
being two I particularly remember.
When
Blackheath became 'Open' in 1992 it was decided to 'close-down' the
Social Club, of which I was then Chairperson, and the residual funds
were put towards the cost of the Ladies Shower Room. At this time I
became an Associate Member and joined House and Social, a natural
progression really, since I had served Cross Country teas and helped
behind the bar and kitchen in previous years. Then I became a member of
the Wine Committee and with that obviously a 'Wednesday Nighter' and
decided to become a Full Member of Blackheath Harriers. Having a voice
at the General Committee Meetings was a driving force in that decision -
what a surprise! My proudest moment was being made a Vice-President in
the year 2000, by P.P. Richard Coles - I had never imagined that I would
attain that status!
I
have organised the Vice-Presidents' Supper for several years now and
although I am no longer an official member of the Wine Committee
(thinking I might ease-off my Club commitments for a while!!!), you
wouldn't know it since I am still involved on a 'consultancy basis' - so
I'm told. And now I've got a 'new job'!!
My Message to you all:
When
P.P. Tim Soutar 'phoned and said 'how do you feel about taking over my
job?', I didn't have a clue of what he could mean, but once the enormity
of the question hit me I was stunned! Sure I was flattered, who wouldn't
be, but I needed time to think! In the next 24 hours I experienced
confident enthusiasm and total self-doubt in equal measure, however the
reassurances of Tim and a certain P. P. whose advice I regularly receive
strengthened my resolve and I decided to step up to the plate!
What
to say that hasn't already been said - we all know that Blackheath
&
Bromley Harriers A.C. is a great
and marvellous Club, we all want success and that requires an immense
amount of continuous effort, certainly from the athletes themselves, but
just as much from the invaluable, hard-to-come-by and indispensable
volunteers.
I
hope to see more people volunteering to help in some way during the
coming year.
If
more people help then more people benefit and the burden is not so heavy
on those who have been generously giving their time for years and
sometimes feel 'invisible'.
I
also hope that in the coming year we can reorganise in order to build
towards more successful senior teams and also continue to support and
encourage our already successful younger athletes.
As
the Hon. Secretary said in his excellent Annual Report, we're probably
in for quite a tough year and I would like to try and generate a greater
feeling of CLUB in order to help us through. I know that we will always
have to work hard at this - the geography of HQ, Norman Park and
Ladywell, plus the many and increasing number of sections in the Club,
will always make it so. Therefore I want to encourage more
COMMUNICATION! I believe that this can help to bring the Club together
as a stronger, closer-knit unit and prevent misunderstandings and missed
opportunities. Talk to each other & talk to me! Get in touch with me
with ideas, let me know of any problems and if I can't sort it, I will
find someone who can!
I will hopefully meet
as many of you as possible during the coming months and I wish everyone
of you a year of success and achievement.
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