Sally-anne Brookes

Sally Brookes is the linchpin of Cheltenham Netball club. On a voluntary basis, she has given many hours a week for 30 years to play, organise, train, enthuse and referee for the club, which runs two teams for players of all ages. The atmosphere of the club is fun and fair (not always what netball is known for!) and this is mainly due to Sally. We have several members who joined us from other clubs, specifically for this. What makes Sally extraordinary, however, is that this is only one part of her busy life. While working as a nurse for elderly patients in the local hospital, raising three children, caring for her sick mother and relations in Cheltenham and Cornwall, voluntarily running games lessons at a local school, and performing the role of 'Welfare Officer' for the Gloucestershire netball league, she has touched so many lives with her constant good humour and dedication. This quote is from Vicky, who plays for the club's second team: 'I wouldn't have believed when I was younger that I would pay to play a sport and love it so much and that's all down to the way Sally runs Cheltenham Ladies. And that confidence has helped me in the rest of my life too (I'm sure it's no coincidence that my career has improved too). Frankly I love the lady!!!' We would love to be able to give Sally this opportunity as a way of saying 'thank you'.