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Karen Taylor named Honorary President

Karen Taylor named Honorary President

Dulcie Davies29 Nov 2020 - 20:42
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https://www.sevenoakshockey.cl

We are delighted to announce Karen Taylor as the new Honorary President of Sevenoaks Hockey Club as Iain Pearson steps down after 12 years in the role

A note from Iain Pearson:
“I am delighted to welcome Karen Taylor as our new President and to wish her every success. I know that she will be a wonderful leader for the Club. I also know we share the same belief that, at its heart, Sevenoaks is a club which strives for excellence in everything that it does, while always remaining true to its family character.

It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as President for the last 12 years. There have been major milestones (mostly good ones!) but, most of all, there has been steady improvement in the quality of all of the Club’s operations and of the hockey available to all our members. Looking forward, the Club faces significant opportunities and also some challenges. The last few years have seen remarkable progress but we also need to keep our feet on the ground and be ready to learn and adapt when things do not go our way.

I look forward to following and supporting as the Club goes from strength to strength as it surely will. With Karen and the new Board in place, it will have the highest quality leadership.”

Karen will officially become SHC President on December 1st and will serve a maximum term of 5 years.

“I am truly honoured to have been selected as the first ‘Lady’ President of Sevenoaks Hockey Club. Everyone who knows me, knows I am a passionate advocate for our Family Club, being an ex-player, coach, manager, wife of one of our men’s top goal scorers, Roy, and proud parent of three children who have all risen through the junior ranks with two now playing in the club’s top men’s teams. Moreover, purple is my favourite colour. I nominated Iain as President back in 2008, when Adrian Greenwood, who had been an outstanding Chair from 1992-2008, sadly died. While Adrian was always going to be a hard act to follow, Iain has done a superlative job during his 12 years at the helm, with a passion and commitment to ensure the club maintains its strong sense of community and inclusion, while striving for and achieving excellence at both individual and team level. Iain leaves behind a fantastic legacy which I will do my best to build on. I know I will be able to call on him, our new management team, and the many other Vice Presidents who I’ve played and worked with in numerous capacities over the years, for advice and support. Thank you Iain and thank you to those who nominated me.”

Having joined the club in September 1983, Karen has taken the field in a number of our ladies’ teams, wearing the captain’s armband for the 2s and 3s, and has scored a whopping 224 goals for the club. She quickly got involved, taking on Ladies’ Treasurer in 1984. In 2002 she established the Ladies Acorns to bring promising juniors into senior hockey and managed and coached the side for 10 years taking them from Kent Division 7 to the East League - a staggering eight promotions in eight years. In 2012, Karen handed the reins to the capable Jacqui Hudson and the team has gone from strength to strength.

Over 30 years Karen sat on a variety of club committees, including as Chair of the Junior Committee, Chair of the Ladies Committee, General Committee and even the Vine Committee for one year. We have Karen to thank for establishing the tradition of an End of Season dinner. After her final stint as Ladies Chair, Karen was awarded the prestigious Jane Sedgwick Rose Bowl for the member who had contributed most during the season - making her the first ever winner and only person to be awarded the Rose Bowl three times. Karen hung up her boots following a knee replacement in 2013 but continued her involvement in the club - managing the Vets and coaching the Ladies 3s and 4s.

Karen and her husband Roy (who also bleeds purple!) probably spend as much time on the sidelines at Hollybush Lane as anyone, spending their weekends watching their sons Ali (M1s) and Robbie (M2s) play, along with as many of the other teams as the match schedule allows. Karen notes her vested interest in watching many former Acorns team mates playing across the ladies’ section, as well as the incredible new junior talent coming through.

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