ERIC HOLMES: Eric was a founder member of Stevenage Men’s Hockey Club. In 1943, in collaboration with a friend, Peter Russell, he established a club in Hitchin which was later to become Blueharts Hockey Club. At the time of the change of name it also became a “closed club,” open only to former pupils of Hitchin Boys School.

As a result Eric had to leave and, in 1945 together with Charles Jones, his former schoolmaster at Alleyne’s Grammar School, started a hockey club in Stevenage.

Eric was to play in a variety of positions, including goalkeeper, for the 1st XI until 1960 when he decided to retire from playing. At that point he took up umpiring and became well known, not only in Hertfordshire, but across the whole of the east of England, achieving qualification with the Eastern Counties Hockey Umpiring Association and becoming a marvellous ambassador for the club, not only in the East but also within, what was then called, the Hockey Association.

During his time with the club Eric held a number of positions. He was Fixture Secretary for many years until 1970 when he was elected President of the club. For a while between 1977 and 1980 he also held the position of Chairman and it was Eric who first established what is now the very popular President’s Day. When an old knee injury caused him to give up umpiring in 1982, he called time on his Presidency and was made an Honorary Life Member.

A permanent fixture in the clubhouse every Saturday evening during his playing and umpiring days, Eric’s visits have gradually diminished over the years but his heart remains true to the club he founded. In July 2010 he celebrated his 90th birthday and remains to this day, an icon of Stevenage Men’s Hockey Club.

AWP, Oct 2010