Doreen Nightingale, ETTA Vice-President and former valued member of workers handed away aged 87 years on October 31 in Eastbourne.
Doreen (pictured above checking Sally Hughes’ bat) got here to desk tennis comparatively late in life when within the Eighties a buddy requested her to make up the numbers in a Native League membership crew in Eastbourne – and so started an extended and valued affiliation with the game.
Doreen described how new buddies led to new doorways being opened and earlier than lengthy she was a part of the crew concerned with the administration of the Veterans’ Desk Tennis Society (VETTS). It was right here that Doreen grew to become conscious of the ETTA Umpires scheme and considering it could be a worthwhile position throughout the sport she was coming to like.
So started Doreen’s officiating journey which began with turning into a County Umpire in 1990, a Nationwide Umpire in 1996 and an Worldwide Umpire in 2000. The officiating pathway didn’t cease with umpiring as Doreen additionally grew to become a Event Referee in 2003. She was recurrently seen at occasions round England in umpiring and refereeing capacities.
Doreen was one of many three girls on what’s, maybe, the one all-female high desk, at an Exeter Grand Prix with the late Gill Smith and Diane Kirkwood (later Webb). Nevertheless, the head of Doreen’s umpiring was when she was chosen for the European Championships in March and April 2003 in Courmayer, Italy.
She was additionally a part of the crew of umpires on the prestigious Masters, Fairfield Halls, Croydon in 2005 and umpired the match between Alan Cooke and Sweden’s former World Champion Jan-Ove Waldner – in entrance of tv cameras.
Following her early retirement as a major faculty trainer in Eastbourne, Doreen was searching for an outlet for her energies and the chance was provided of working for the ETTA in 1991 within the Rating and Improvement Division.
Initially, Doreen’s work was break up between rating and improvement, notably with the introduction of the Junior League which had acquired a six-year sponsorship with the Woolwich Constructing Society. Nevertheless, because the rating scheme developed it grew to become a full-time job and Doreen was acknowledged because the Rating Maestro – there didn’t appear any question that Doreen was not in a position to resolve.
Rating was moved into the Administration Division to allow Doreen to assist in different administrative areas too, turning into secretary on quite a few ETTA committees and so assisted the Common Secretary, Rob Sinclair, with a few of his workload.
Managing the rating scheme was the position Doreen continued in till 2006 and hers was a well-known face in each version of Desk Tennis Information when the rating lists had been printed every problem.
All the time keen to assist the place she was wanted, Doreen was a useful member of the crew on the ETTA Data Desk at Euro ’94 in Birmingham.
When she retired from the ETTA in 2006 as a full-time member of workers, she nonetheless continued to work part-time for some time and was nonetheless concerned in officiating at many ETTA occasions in addition to domestically, additionally her involvement with the Eastbourne League and Sussex County continued.
At League degree, Doreen was Eastbourne’s Secretary, Umpires Secretary and County Consultant. For Sussex County she was Umpires Secretary for 16 years up till 2006 and in addition a member of the Umpires Committee and a daily face at County conferences.
What had began as a favour to a buddy had become a few years of service and dedication with a useful information of many areas of the game. Doreen was all the time the primary one within the workplace in Hastings each morning and her work ethic was second to none. She left an enormous hole when she, ultimately, completely retired.
Nevertheless, a number of former colleagues and Doreen stored in contact and met frequently for lunch proper up till the time of her demise. She was all the time to know what was occurring and stored abreast of developments.
Richard Xmas, former ETTA CEO stated on Doreen’s semi-retirement in 2006: “Doreen’s contribution to the work of the Affiliation has been immense. A real multi-tasker, her vitality, enthusiasm and experience has touched and improved each necessary administrative perform within the workplace. I welcome this chance to specific my honest appreciation of her excellent work thus far.”
For her contribution in any respect ranges, Doreen was made an Honorary Life Member of VETTS in 1996, a Vice-President of the ETTA in 2003 and an Honorary Life Member of Sussex County in 2009.
By no means one to take a seat nonetheless for lengthy, on her full-time, everlasting retirement, Doreen immersed herself in church actions and have become totally concerned within the work of her native church.
Our condolences to all household and buddies with grateful thanks for all Doreen contributed to English desk tennis.
