There have been many people who have helped me throughout my life, and many who I've lost touch with and thus failed to thank. This page is a tribute to them.
Adrian Evans who gave me his old Apricot computer when I was skint. Without this I doubt I would ever have become a PC programming expert. Oh! and for his drive and skill in our business venture.
Anthony Bradley - a old fashioned leader who inspired his troops. Known as 'Brad' and called me 'Billy' (as in Billy the Kid).
Malcolm Rose for encouraging me when I worked in both the business and computer departments.
Anne Reese for encouraging me when I worked in both the business and computer departments.
Terry Moore - an absolutely superb project manager who knew everything that was going on and also understood it all.
June Goble - just a great manager and a lovely person.
Steve Vincent who was a brilliant colleague with the same desire as me to use modern IT techniques.
Terry Burrell - an inspiring architect.
Peter Tripp - had a huge wealth of knowledge and a great technician. He was my role model at RSA.
Brian Cottle - for trying to secure me a job in ISD when my own job was relocated to Oldham.
Norman Hockley - for pushing to allow me to work on harder and more interesting work.
Duncan Grist - a talented, hard working chap who had a love of IT and a flair for software development.
Doreen Gardener who gave me my initial umpiring training with Ernesford Grange Netball Club. Doreen trained Ken Matthews at the same time and he's now an 'A' Award umpire.
Mona Tulloch who gave loads of encouragement and advice (and also occasionally cut my hair!) and pushed my name forward to umpire two CUWISCO netball finals.
Ernesford Grange Netball Club who let me umpire at training nights and had me umpire many matches in my first couple of years.
Jan Lawrence inspirational and hands-on helpful to becoming a better umpire.
Olive Belcher inspirational and hands-on helpful to becoming a better umpire. Olive asked me to umpire at Warwickshire Country Trials which I really enjoyed.
Sheelagh Redpath whose Intermediate Umpire training course and whose comments that I should get my Intermediate Award soon and my Panel Award within three years of that, inspired me to become better [as it happened I managed neither award].
Sandra Price for asking me to umpire my first Division One match for Henley College 'A' v G.E.C. 'B' on Sun 21st November 1982.
Anne Lenton whose encouragement was amazing. A special thanks for appointing me to umpire a few County matches including Sussex 2nd v Middlesex 2nd on Sat 4 Feb 1984.
Delmor Abbott for general support in umpiring.
Saltdean Netball Club that let me umpire many division 1 matches for them.
Jane Twaite who, as treasurer, helped me run the CCHC (Coventry Corporation Housing Club) netball club from 1982-1983.
University of Sussex Netball Club who let me umpire most of their matches.
I must have met hundreds (and maybe thousands) of players around Coventry city and Sussex county. I regret to say my memory for people was never that great; add to that my age and I have forgotten way more than I remember, which is a great shame. However, due to quirks of memory I do remember some of you and I want to thank you for your general encouragement. Names that I can remember (in no particular order) are Pat Brophie, Frances McCloughlin, Sue Wilkinson, Ann Baker, Jill Catlin, Jackie Tipler, Betty Galsworthy, Evelyn Fisher, Mildred Whitehead, Vera Davis, Kay Harvey, Linda Clark, Ken Matthews, Sharon Garton, Allana ??? [from Saltdean], Jackie Potts, Julie Boulton, Jan Atkins, Judith Peters, Janet Shreeve, Sue Cordon.