The Presentation Event was held at The Keep, Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford on the 19th May 2024.
Gloria Keech, County Chair, welcomed everyone to The Keep in Kempston to the County Volunteer Awards celebration to take part in an Afternoon Tea and a glass of Prosecco.
Nominees and nominators for the various County Volunteer Awards came together on Sunday 19 th May 2024. Gloria thanked guests and also Alison Brightman, Bedfordshire County President, for joining the celebration.
Gloria said “It is one of my more delightful tasks as Chair of the County to be able to be part of the presentation event, to meet recipients and to recognise their contribution to the County. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our sport and without their dedication netball could simply not function.”
The task as always for the Judging Panel was very difficult, with all nominations being worthy of recognition. We know we have wonderful volunteers in Bedfordshire and it is great that we can acknowledge some of them today.
Gloria explained that the criteria for each of the Award categories will be read out first, with the names of the nominees for that category. However, a short precis only of the information provided in each of the nominations for each winner.
Gloria asked Alison Brightman, in her capacity as President of the County to hand out the
Awards. The following members were presented with an Award in the various Bedfordshire County
Volunteer Awards for 2024:
The Bedfordshire County Coach – Children & Young People Award: Winner: Caroline
McNally
The Bedfordshire County Grassroots Officials Award: Winner: Liz Kearns
A Certificate of Recognition was presented to: Fran Smith
The Bedfordshire County Grassroots Volunteer Award: Winner: Danielle Newell
A Certificate of Recognition was presented to: Kathy Jackson & Natascha Kelly
The Bedfordshire County Unsung Hero Award: Winner: Jo Randall
A Certificate of Recognition was presented to: Helen Jordan, Michelle Power, Barbara
Walsh, Natascha Kelly and Jeanette Johnson
The Bedfordshire County Club of the Year Award: Winner: Maulden Club
A Certificate of Recognition was presented to: Galaxy Netball Club
The Bedfordshire County Young Volunteer Award: Winner: Grace Milligan
A Certificate of Recognition was presented to: Holly McNally
The next Award presented was the Bedfordshire County Long Service Award for 2024, this
Award recognises the contribution of a volunteer who has used their invaluable experience
to give outstanding service for 15 year or more within the County. The following members were awarded the Bedfordshire County Long Service Award:
Barbara Walshaw, Pat Geddes and Kim-Marie Wells
Our final two Awards are presented in honour of two exceptional past Bedfordshire County
Netball members, the Nancy Morris Trophy and Sylvia Eastley Trophy.
The winner of The Nancy Morris Trophy 2024 is: Fran Smith
The winner of the Sylvia Eastley Trophy 2024 is: Debbie Ellis
Three award recipients were not able to attend and their Awards will be presented to
them at the County AGM on 10 th July 2024.
Gloria finished by congratulating all the volunteer recipients today, winners and nominees,
and a special thank you also to those of you here who completed and sent in nominations,
and thank you again to Alison for joining us today.
A gallery of images of the Award can be found below.
