Stoolball news in July 2007

Rosemary was the moving force behind the reconstitution of the National Stoolball Association (NSA) in 1979 after its demise in 1943 on the death of W W Grantham, the founder of the stoolball Association for Great Britain.

Rosemary fought tirelessly to press forward the virtues of the game of stoolball and was forever seeking to achieve national publicity for the game.  Her contacts in high places was rewarded during the 1990s, when two ambassadors for the game of stoolball, Fay Jolly, representing Surrey, and Kay Price, representing Sussex, were present at a Sportman’s evening hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Rosemary played her stoolball at Ockley on the Surrey/Sussex border and was a founder member of the club.  Following the death of her husband Tony, Rosemary moved first to Bishops Castle in Shropshire and then more recently to Charlbury in Oxfordshire.

Rosemary was the inaugural Chairman at the NSA’s formation in 1979 and became President in 1985.  She remained in touch with the game and regularly attended the annual general meetings.  She had the sharpest of eyes for detail and accuracy and was an avid collector and dispatcher of newspaper cuttings relating to sport and particularly stoolball.  Rosemary was a forthright and fearless lady in her approach to life and enjoyed a good fight.

She will be sadly missed and perhaps her explicit comments above the first hymn at her funeral service said it all.  It read “Loud, cheerful singing please”.  Everybody duly obliged as they embarked on ‘Guide me, O thou great Redeemer’.

It is with much sadness that we must record the death of Rosemary Hobbs, the NSA’s President, on 2 July 2007 at The Churchill Hospital, Oxford.  Her funeral took place at St Margaret’s Church, Ockley in Surrey on Thursday 19 July.  Amongst the mourners were a number of her friends from the world of stoolball.  Tributes to her full and demanding life were paid by her daughter Angela and son Michael.

Officers of the National Stoolball Association (NSA) met at 53 Kings Road, Horsham on Monday 25 June 2007 at 7.30pm. Topics discussed include the Major League Baseball research visit, Club Mark Accreditation and the website.

Read more on Minutes of officers’ meeting on Monday 25 June 2007…

Maresfield is holding a ladies’ 8-a-side tournament on 9 September. Arrive for a prompt 11am start. Please phone Chantelle on 01892 531993 if you would like to enter a team.

The tournament was previously due to be held on 24 June, but was cancelled due to rain.

Last year Emily Wotton, Key Stage 4 Co-Ordinator at Beacon Community College in Crowborough, got an email from the British Council in Thailand.  It asked if the school would be interested in designing a development plan aiming to improve or develop the physical education in Beacon’s link school, Satthassamut School. Emily sent us this account of what followed.

“With a couple of hours to spare I sat myself down at my computer and started typing. Having spent hours researching (or maybe 10 minutes) it was no surprise that stoolball had not yet reached Thailand. (I’m not sure if it’s even being taught North of Watford Gap!?)

“So there I began my plan. I started by explaining the rules and regulations of the game, followed by a six week scheme of work the school could introduce and any equipment they might need.  I made sure to emphasize the benefits playing stoolball could bring, from not only keeping fit whilst having great fun, developing teamwork, leadership skills and gamesmanship but also it’s a great sport for improving pupils’ hand eye co-ordination.  Needless to say Satthassamut were [i]very[/i] interested.

“There was only one problem: how on Earth could they introduce the sport if they didn’t have the right equipment?  Now my plan was really beginning to take shape.  Perhaps the best way to really introduce stoolball would be if specialist PE teachers from Beacon could visit the school then they could take the equipment with them.

“So with my suitcases full, bats brought, balls donated by the East Division and sun tan lotion packed, I can’t wait to go on my travels, but most of all I can’t wait to spread the word of “stoolball” to the masses! Who knows, perhaps we’ll be meeting Thailand in the finals of the London 2012 Olympics?”

Emily has just returned from her trip and has promised to let us know how it went, so check back soon for an update.