Somerset

Mollie and Colin (Vice Presidents)

Following the birth of their first child in 1966, Mollie assisted with starting a Keep Fit club at Sydenham Community Centre. They soon changed to playing netball and hence Sydenham Netball Club was founded.

The club joined the Somerset County League in 1967/68 and after making this decision, Mollie returned home and dumped a rule book into Colin’s lap telling him he was umpiring that week at the opening rally - a baptism of fire!.

When Colin became a youth leader at the Bridgwater YMCA, both Mollie and Colin quickly set up the YMCA Netball Club, later to be merged with the Bridgwater NC.

Mollie and Colin both passed their Provisional and Intermediate Umpiring Award. Colin went on a acoaching course at Loughborough in the early 70’s where he gained the Intermediate Coaching Award. Although there were a few men coaching netball at that time Colin is believed to be the first male to gain this award.

Mollie played netball at club and County level, mainly as GS.  She also managed the County teams, organising fixtures and away trips as well as umpiring. Colin also umpired and coached regularly at club and County level.

Both have held many club and County committee positions over the years, finally retiring soon after Mollie’s 50th birthday in 1989.

Mel Reynolds (Vice President)

Mel has always played netball, from primary through secondary school, Under 21s and Somerset County League. A couple of years after leaving school, she became a member of Tangier Netball Club (later to become Wyvern NC) in Taunton for many years, playing in Team Jays with her Sister and is now playing with another of her long time teammates at Walking Netball.  She achieved her Preliminary Umpiring Award (now C Award) and her B Award whilst at this Club, she later moved to Taunton NC.

She has held many committee roles at Somerset County and Club levels including;  Fixtures and Umpiring Secretary; Junior Manager; Chair; Secretary; Fixtures and Membership Secretary and Regional Rep. 

 Mel said "Netball has been a wonderful sport for me and I have built up great friendships across the County and Region.  I am delighted that I played with my sister for a good many years.  I have also played with my daughter and hopefully, at some point, I will be able to play with one of my granddaughters, who are already participating and enjoying the game."

Mavis Thorp (President)

Her first association with the County setup was as a player for 2nds and 1sts from 1977 to 1984.  In 1996 she achieved her B Award for officiating. Friday night trips to Norwich and York and a wonderful ferry trip to the Isle of Wight which stick in her memory.

She became a C award umpire assessor in 1990 and has been a member of the Somerset County Officiating sub-committee for several years.  She was County Secretary for one year (1979/80) and has served two periods as County Chair. Since stepping down she has continued to serve on the Executive Committee.  She received a Netball SW Regional Volunteer’s Award in 2012. 

Mavis said "If I’m allowed to mention any one person, it would have to be Mr. Thorpe, for caring for our children when they were small, which allowed me to become so involved."

Gill Newton

Gill has been playing netball since school and played in Weymouth before she moved up to Yeovil and got married in 1985. She joined Yeovil NC in 1984 a year before moving.

She has held various roles on the Yeovil NC committee over the years, ranging from a general committee role, Secretary, Chair and at the moment Treasurer for the club (2024). She has also been part of the Somerset Committee for many years and held the Treasurer position for 3 seasons and also forming part of the umpiring sub-committee for a couple of seasons with Rhonda loving her spreadsheets! 

She started umpiring in Somerset, qualifing as a C award umpire and progressing to her B award. She had passed the A award written paper but unfortunately never progressed to the practical.

Gill qualified as a level 2 coach around 2014 however, has found coaching challenging.  She has since gone back to coaching this in 2024 to assist with YNC Train to Play opportunities.

Gill said "Netball has been a big part of my life and of course my husband’s and the children’s. It had to be for all of them. I have made some great friends and have enjoyed seeing the youngsters progress and surpass me. I still enjoy playing but not sure how much longer the knees will last."

A quote from her nominator said "Gill has tirelessly volunteered, fitting roles in and around her playing, umpiring and a full time job in finance. Club and County are both indebted to her contribution."

Lynne Cornish

Lynne started playing netball at junior school but once in senior school (due to her height) was immediately put as a defender, which she loved. She played at junior netball at YMCA moving on to their senior club, which then moved to Chilton school and is now known as Bridgwater Netball Club.  She also played at County level in the first team for a few years. 

Lynne moved to Sydenham NC  in the late 90’s and has been there ever since!  At the end of her first season, she was nominated as Chairperson and continued in this role for many years.  She played in the Premier division for many years until she was injured which then put a hold on her love of defending. She then switch positions to shooter which was easier on the knees.  Unfortunately, her knee injury meant she had to give up playing – this was quite traumatic and she still misses playing now.

As a result of this I continued with being Chairperson, selector, coach and team manager on a weekly basis for the senior club.  She also took over the running of Junior Netball club.

 When COVID hit it had a horrendous knock on affect with the club and ultimately we made the sad decision to pull out of the senior league.  Lynne has continued with the Junior Netball club and have had some great successes over the last few years.  She enjoys running the Junior Club and has some great help at the club which has shown in the results of the games that the young girls have played. 

Throughout my Netball career she was also an umpire obtaining her C award.  Unfortunately, although she had hoped to progress with umpiring, again her injury meant she could not go any further.

A quote from her nominator said "Lynne has over 30 years experience playing herself and then turning her hand to coaching. Unfortunately, 2 years ago (2022) Sydenham NC had to fold and if it wasn’t for Lynne it would have folded a few years before that. Lynne at this time was also running the juniors section of the club and has kept the spirit of Sydenham alive."