I was born in Klerksdorp South Africa on the 30 March 1948, to a second generation Englishman from Cambridge and a mother who was born in St Ives Cornwall.
My dad co owned a Pharmacy with Leo Sammel, who was chairperson of the South African Hockey association, and he played for South Africa before the WW2. He and his wife were childless so Mr Sammel (as I always called him) undertook to school me in the sport of hockey from 9 yrs. old. At ten I started to play for the club, as in those years, there were no Junior teams. I played in the men’s team, as there was only one team. They put me out on the wing.

At fourteen I was sent to Boarding school run by the Irish Christian brothers. The first Hockey team consisted of u18 and under, as there were no other age groups , but there were four teams. I got into the first team and stayed there until I finished school four years later. In those days we played in the men’s league with Boys High Kimberley. Every year in July, which is winter holidays in SA, the national schools tournaments took place over a week. I was picked for my home Province (county)and not my school county as I was still 15. This tournament was held in Johannesburg . At the end of the week a SA Schools Boys A, B and C team were chosen. The next year the tournament was in my hometown and I again played for my home province for the last year as I was in my final year at school. My school county Griqauland West insisted I play for them. This tournament was held in Queenstown. I was named in one of the SA school teams.

My first year out of school found me on compulsory military training for a year. I played hockey for the Army squad and got into the men’s county team for a tournament in Swaziland.

The next year I went to Durban to study and I played for the Harlequin hockey club and Natal u/21. I then went to an Afrikaans University who wanted to start men’s hockey at Potchefstroom University. I was appointed captain and off we went to SA varsity week, where Natal university beat us 20/nil, and Wits University beat us 21 /in the afternoon. Four years later we ended up in the finals, and we were the only university to draw with the Oxford/Cambridge touring team. I started to coach at my first year at Potchefstroom University where I was studying BA physical education. While at university, I coached Potch Boys High and Gimmies Girls schools. I also went to the annual IPT (Interprovincial men’s Tournament) with Griqauland West. The tournaments were held in Zimbabwe, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Pretoria. I also served on the county committee as a representative from the University.

My hockey playing ended in 1980 when I tore my Achilles tendon playing rugby. In 1981 I was appointed as the manager of the Bulldogs Hockey touring team. We played in Holland, Belgium, France, England, Scotland and Germany.

In 1994, when apartheid ended, I was involved in schools hockey as I coached fulltime at St Conrad’s. After the end of apartheid the black and white hockey associations amalgamated. Few whites were keen to serve on a mixed council but I did so I was involved from 1994 to 2011 when I came to England. I was initially appointed Chairman of the county North West Boys hockey, as then and still now, schools hockey belonged to the South African Hockey Union (SAHU), but operated as its own entity. Schools were divide into three councils namely Boys, Girls and Primary Schools. Each had their own committee. I belonged to the boy’s section as secretary until 2005 and then was voted onto primary section until 2011.

During this period my school teams did well winning two national championships. My county boys team was promoted from B section to A section and in 2001 to 2005 I was appointed National manager for u17 and u18 teams, we went on a tour of Zimbabwe, and the Australian u18 toured during this period.

In 2011 my wife and I were retiring from the school where we had been for more than thirty years. My daughter and son lived in Kettering, and in September, my daughter let me know I could get a UK passport as the law now allowed person born of a British woman to get a passport. On 27th December we arrived in Kettering.
Before I arrived in the UK I sent my hockey CV to Northampton Sports and alas had no response! On the 2 January I found the telephone number of Tom Sellers on the Internet. He immediately asked me if I would help coach juniors as a volunteer. So began my journey in Kettering.

Without the support of the Kettering Hockey Club, I would be probably still be walking the streets looking for something to do. Because of Kettering Hockey Club, I am now occupied 5 days a week doing the sport I love. Sometimes I do not understand what is been said to me, but other times I get a WHAAAA…., because as you know, I speak perfect English ?

I want to thank all of Kettering Hockey Club for their support. There are special people in this club and they give you a feeling of belonging. I would not like to single anyone out but I thank you all for allowing me to continue my hockey journey in the twilight years of my life.