CqE Diplomas for David King and Frances Low

Croquet England Diplomas recognise those club members who have given outstanding service to croquet and have been active in Club or Federation affairs over a long period. Diplomas have been awarded this year to David King and Frances Low. The citations read:

David has been a member of the club since 2011. He is always ready to offer help and is very keen to help people play and improve their game. David is a club coach and he coaches on Academy GC courses as well as helping with newcomers on our four free lessons introductory offer. His welcoming nature and friendly patient approach have been key to getting many newcomers to join the club.

David’s background as an accountant means he is great assistance to the club treasurer and he acts as the examiner of the club’s annual accounts as well as helping out with monthly accounts and the financials for special events. He also acts as the Treasurer for the South East Federation.

It was in the three GC World Championships that SCCC has held since 2019 that David’s organisational and people skills came to the fore. In 2019 he acted as the main point of contact for visiting players on their transport arrangements between the four host clubs - Southwick, Compton, Tunbridge Wells and West Worthing. In 2022 and 2023 he ran the player registration process and the gate for spectators.

David has captained club teams, most recently in the South East Fed GC R league where SCCC have been champions in 5 of the last 11 years. David regularly plays in tournaments. In doubles his regular partner is Richard Brooks and they are a very successful pair in local tournaments.

David is a regular helper at our corporate / society events and has taken on organising a couple of them this year.

Frances has been a Grade 2 AC coach since 2006, an examining coach since 2014, a GC coach since 2016 and an AC referee since 1998.

She is a founder member of the committee that runs the Croquet Academy and has been a strong advocate of AC coaching. Her teaching background gives her a good basis for coaching and she sets high standards.

Frances is also a member of Rottingdean Croquet Club and coaches members there in AC as well as encouraging them to enter South East Federation and other events.

Frances has been very concerned about the decline in AC playing numbers. To counter this, she has led the introduction of Short Croquet at Southwick. Initially with Winter modular courses that she ran in 2021, 2022 and 2023 to introduce people to Short Croquet. During the playing season in 2022 and 23 she backed these courses up with regular Wednesday morning roll-up sessions. She has gone further in 2023 and 2024 with Short Croquet doubles tournaments and in 2024 two Short Croquet jamborees with teams from Southwick and other local clubs (several players for other clubs have benefitted from her Short Croquet Coaching as well). We now have more people playing AC than for many years, many of whom played only GC a couple of seasons ago.

Frances helped during the recent World Championships at Southwick with the player registration process and by scoring on the lawn side scoreboards.

Frances is a regular tournament manager for our one-day GC and AC tournaments and for SE Federation events held at Southwick.

Congratulations to them both.