The Board of Trustees is delighted to announce that three new Trustees were appointed on 12th February 2021, to help further the work of The Hockey Museum (THM).

Sophie-May Johnson		Paul Harvey		Tochi Panesar

Sophie-May Johnson

Sophie is currently the Assistant Curator, Sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and brings with her knowledge of national museum standards as well as digital marketing and of using collections management systems. She has a first-class honours degree from Cardiff University and MA in Public Archaeology from University College, London. She is a keen sportswoman and enjoys cycling and tennis.

Paul Harvey

Paul is currently the Group Marketing Director with Abellio UK and has recently been seconded to the Government to assist with revitalising the transport industry following the Covid pandemic. Prior to this he was the Global Marketing Director with Merlin Entertainments and had special responsibility for Legoland Parks. He is a player-coach with South Berkshire Hockey Club and enjoys running and studying contemporary history.

Tarlochan Singh Panesar (Tochi)

Tochi is retired and is the former Chair of the Spencer Sports Club and a former President of Spencer Hockey Club in London. He was an IT professional with Lloyds Bank for over 30 years and was involved with major infrastructure delivery projects. He was the Spencer Hockey Club’s 1st XI captain and has also played for London Indians, Lusitanians and Members Hockey Clubs.

Our Museum Chair, John Willmott said:

“Following a couple of trustee retirements, we are absolutely delighted that we are to be joined by three such professional individuals, who each bring with them new skills that the Museum needs and that will help THM to move forward.

“In my opinion the Museum is the hockey world’s best kept secret and with the combined talents of these new Trustees together with our current trustees means that we will be well served going forwards. As a board we rely heavily on the dedication and expertise of our volunteers and of our small staff and these appointees will help us direct our efforts more effectively. In addition, we can increase our global marketing and digital audience engagement that is now so important and with the Museum having so much that it can offer to all of our sports audiences be they young or old!”

Of our most recently departed Trustee, Lucy Newcombe, John said:

“The Hockey Museum is grateful to Lucy for her hard work and commitment over recent years; she has aided the Museum’s development in many ways. Lucy leaves behind a professional museum that has evolved to become a prominent player within the sporting heritage world and an invaluable advocate for hockey’s unique history. I wish to thank her for her efforts.”

Explore THM website using the menu navigation. You can support the Museum’s work by donating or becoming a Friend (click here for more information), and you can read about our other Trustees in their own words on the trustees page of the website (click here).

The Hockey Museum (THM) is very proud to announce that its recent past Chair, Katie Dodd, has been awarded an MBE for services to hockey in the New Year’s Honours List.

Katie Dodd in action for England against Wales at Wembley in 1981.

Katie has been involved in hockey for the best part of fifty years and her roles within the sport are hugely significant. She reached the highest level as a player, winning twenty-six caps for England in the 1980s and captaining the nation to a bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships. Off the pitch she served more than twenty-five years at Ealing Ladies Hockey Club and became a hugely respected administrator at club, county, southern region and national level. She was also a member of the committee of the All England Women’s Hockey Association (AEWHA). Notably she was a member of the England Hockey Board from 2008 to 2015. In 2018 Katie became one of only eight people to have been awarded the England Hockey Member of Honour, the highest accolade given by the governing body.

In more recent years Katie became the first Chair of the Board of Trustees of THM in 2011, retiring in 2019; she remains a Trustee and an active volunteer. This was the period when THM acquired its first ‘permanent home’ which provided the springboard for the museum’s development on many fronts. During her tenure as Chair the museum attracted a significant team of volunteers and was able to take on staff to help manage its development. In 2012 THM became a registered charity and in 2018 achieved accredited museum status from Arts Council England, thanks to strategic direction from Katie. In the same year THM received the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) President’s Award, which recognised the work done internationally as well as at home.

Katie (right) receives the FIH President's Award from then England Hockey President Sue Bodycomb during the Hockey Writers' Club luncheon in 2019.

The increased exposure of the museum saw over 100 collections a year arriving at the Woking premises and the overall collection now totals over seventy-five thousand items. Regular exhibitions at international events further enhance the museum’s reputation, as do numerous study projects, including one to accurately catalogue the national teams’ playing records, which Katie is particularly involved with.

Her contribution to the sport has been quite remarkable, as is her spirit, love for the game and willingness to help others for the good of hockey. She fully deserves to be made an MBE and congratulations go to her from all her colleagues at THM.

When Katie heard of the award she said:

“What an amazing honour! But hockey is a team sport so I feel this award is also recognition of the many inspirational, passionate and committed people I have been privileged to play and work alongside throughout my hockey career. The last ten years at The Hockey Museum has been a particularly special time with the staff, volunteers, Trustees and supporters pulling together to make it an amazing journey. That said, there is still so much more to do!”

In addition to the above – yes, there is more – Katie also supports THM financially as a Friend. If you've found yourself suitably inspired by her immense efforts to drive the museum forward, you may like to show your support by joining her as a fellow Friend of The Hockey Museum or by making an alternative donation.

Details can be found here.