18 September, 2024
Alison Thompson was raised on the precept that ‘time prices nothing’ so it’s no shock she is hesitant to consider her multi-decade dedication to badminton at each the nationwide and native stage is worthy of celebration.
Thompson has been a useful member of Elmfield Badminton Membership for the final 40 years, first as a participant, then membership secretary and later as unofficial membership captain, all whereas balancing a profession as a nurse.
The North East native has been hitting shuttles for so long as she will be able to bear in mind, influenced by her father, Jack Maughan, who ran a junior badminton membership in her hometown of Hartlepool for a lot of his life.
Regardless of shifting north to Newcastle, Thompson couldn’t shake the badminton bug that her brother additionally inherited from their father, and credit the game’s household really feel for holding her within the recreation.
“My brother and I obtained so concerned due to my father,” she mentioned. “My life has all the time been crammed with badminton, I don’t suppose there’s any means I may repay the quantity of enjoyment I’ve skilled from supporting, watching and enjoying this superb sport.”
Thompson first joined Elmfield Badminton Membership as a participant aged 20 and has since grow to be a part of the furnishings as a long-serving committee member – a job she sees as a lot of a privilege as her paid job.
“My brother and I have been all the time introduced as much as consider that ‘time prices nothing’,” she mentioned. “We have been introduced as much as consider everybody can afford to present a few of theirs from time to time.”
It’s no shock then that Thompson took on the function of membership captain – reserving courts, holding gamers in-the-know and ensuring the entire membership continued to run easily – with out ever being formally requested.
“Because the older members stopped enjoying, my function as secretary developed into taking up the unofficial duties of membership captain,” she added. “Our true captain for a few years was Foong Tham, a tremendous volunteer who arrange the Anglo Scottish League in 1997.
“Les Hodgson, now in his 80s, has additionally been president from my first days within the membership and nonetheless retains an energetic curiosity in how issues are progressing.”
In true unsung hero fashion, Thompson is reluctant to acknowledge the long-lasting influence she has personally had on her Newcastle-based membership, however can’t skirt the very fact she has been the one to maintain the cogs turning even within the hardest of circumstances.
Final month Elmfield Badminton Membership misplaced its final corridor and was pressured to search for another house for native badminton fanatics, however Thompson performed a pivotal half in guaranteeing the membership’s survival.
“Issues weren’t trying nice for the longer term,” she mentioned. “I spent many sleepless nights considering we wouldn’t survive past 12 months 99, however we weathered the powerful occasions and reached our one centesimal Anniversary.
“Many due to Newcastle Excessive College for Ladies who got here good on the final hour. So many members helped us to discover a new venue and I really feel with a group like that we are going to proceed to thrive.”
As for Thompson’s on-the-court contributions to the game, she has represented Northumberland as a participant for over 40 years, crediting her fellow teammates for a lifetime’s value of reminiscences.
“Representing Northumberland for the final 40 years has been such a rewarding expertise,” she mentioned. “It’s given me a wholesome respect for the hours put in by others to permit our County groups to prove for matches a number of hundred miles away.
“I additionally know there are a lot of folks with unpaid roles concerned in Northumberland Badminton Affiliation and additional afield at present, who do excess of myself.
“There have been highs and lows however I wouldn’t surrender the reminiscences for something.”