A packed club house for retiring Coach Bruce Peapell

Over 50 players, parents and friends surprised Bruce at the Cross In Hand Rugby club last night with a reception and presentation for his work with the junior badminton club over the past 17 years.

The event, organized by Elaine Turner-Noakes, saw players of all ages that had been members of the Waldron Junior Badminton Club over the years and included England player Heather Olver.  ESJBA Chairman, David Fletcher, recently returned from his annual sojourn to Uganda where he has been coaching and promoting the sport, brought the bustling atmosphere to order.  Mrs.T-Noakes read out a long letter of recommendation with extracts of many of the activities that Bruce had organised for the club. These included canoeing trips and  through his love for the music of Tchaikovsky, trips to the ballet.

Not only did the turn-out overwhelm him, but also the large card with signatures and well wishes from his former pupils that was given to him..  Nearly lost for words, Bruce thanked everyone for the surprise, the gifts and recalled many memories of the past 17 years.  The club had started at the Waldron Church Hall with 6 players and within two years of work within other clubs and schools, Bruce had accumulated more than 100 players.  It was this growth and support of players and parents that had prompted him to take up the position as a full-time badminton coach.

Bruce continued his work in many other clubs and schools around E Sussex, became Coaching Secretary for Sussex Badminton, initiated and Chaired the Sussex Badminton Coaches’ Association throughout the 1990’s and finally founded the East Sussex Badminton Association in 2005, which provides the stepping-stone for many talented youngsters wanting to advance into County badminton.

Although Bruce may have come into the sport a little later than most, he has certainly made up the time with the enormous amount of work and effort he has dedicated to junior badminton for Sussex.  He is now looking to a well-earned retirement but no double we will still see him around the junior events in the future.