Annie Finally Gets Her Man!

During her year in office Annie attended over 600 different events and was a passionate advocate for the power of sport and physical activity to positively impact on Hertfordshire’s residents and communities.

As part of her work, she presented 100+ awards which recognised the outstanding efforts of those individuals and organisations that make such a massive contribution to community life in Hertfordshire, using sport and physical activity as the vehicle for their efforts.

The first of those award recipients was Alan Barlow who, at the time, was celebrating 50 years of volunteering at Royston Football Club - and the nomination for that award came from Terry Graves, a former Assistant Head Teacher and Head of Physical Education at Greneway School in Royston. A physical education practitioner for over 40 years Terry was, at the time, still an active player, coach and referee for football and basketball, having coached in his local community for over 25 years.

Throughout his career, Terry had rubbed shoulders with the great and good of British Sport and his services had previously been officially recognised at the Aviva and Daily Telegraph School Sport Matters Awards when he was highly commended in the School Sports Teacher of the Year category - at a glittering ceremony at Wembley stadium.

As such, it was no surprise when the High Sheriff’s office received a nomination for Terry himself, citing his work over four decades in both the education and community sport sectors, suggesting that he be recognised with an Outstanding Contribution to Physical Education and School Sport in Hertfordshire Award.

That was readily agreed by the High Sheriff’s office and plans were put in place to spring a surprise presentation, but sadly Terry, oblivious to his nomination, then suffered several strokes which severely impacted on his general health and community activity.

Despite repeated attempts by both Annie Brewster and Herts Sport and Physical Activity colleagues Jane Parker and John O’Callaghan - who were assisting Annie with the awards - it proved impossible to find a suitable time either during Annie’s shrieval year or, indeed, during the ensuing 10 months, to make the presentation

Nevertheless, perseverance eventually prevailed and recently Terry and his most supportive wife, Jillian, visited the Hertfordshire Sports Village at the University of Hertfordshire, to meet with the former High Sheriff, together with colleagues from the Herts Sport and Physical Activity Partnership, to receive his commemorative plaque.

Accepting the award from Annie Brewster who is now one of Hertfordshire’s Deputy Lieutenants, Terry said: “It is a great honour to be recognised in this way and I would thank Annie, the Office of the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, and John O’Callaghan and colleagues at the Herts Sport and Physical Activity Partnership for this recognition. The award will take pride of place at home and will serve as a reminder of the life chances that can be improved by teachers of high-quality physical education and those involved in community sports volunteering.

The past few years have been very tough as I have come to terms with my health issues, and remaining active has been an important part of my ongoing recovery. I have always known the importance of sport and physical activity in improving lives and over recent times have witness that importance first-hand.”

In presenting Terry with the award Annie said: “Terry’s dedication and commitment is a glowing example of the army of individuals that are involved in the delivery of physical education, sport and physical activity programmes in our schools and local communities and the value that they add in making our communities safer, stronger and better places to live and work.

I am thrilled that Terry was able to join us and he is clearly well on the road to a full recovery after what must have been an extremely scary experience. Terry will be fondly remembered as having provided the bookends to my shrieval year – kicking it off with Alan Barlow’s nomination and finally wrapping it up in receiving this much deserved recognition. He is a real champion”.