In memory of our longest-standing member, Shelagh Davson
Shelagh Davson | 13.10.1925 – 23.06.2023
It is with great sadness that we record the passing of Shelagh Davson, East Glos Club’s longest-standing member and hockey legend.
It is with great sadness that we record the passing of Shelagh Davson, East Glos Club’s longest-standing member and hockey legend.Shelagh joined the club in 1946. She played on the left wing for the club’s first XI, for Gloucestershire and for the south-west.
In 1968 Shelagh retired from playing and became a coach and umpire. She umpired at all levels, including internationals. She was actively involved in county hockey as a coach, selector committee member and, ultimately, president.
Shelagh worked tirelessly for junior hockey at East Glos for decades. She coached teams and organised training, matches and competitions into her late eighties. She and her partner, the late Mary Eyre, also turned out in all weathers to support their teams.
They were known very affectionately to generations as “the old ladies”; supportive, encouraging, kind and indomitable.
Shelagh’s funeral will be at 2pm on Tuesday 8th August 2023 at St Mary’s Church, Mill St, Prestbury, GL2 3BG.
— Andrea Butland.
At the East Glos open Day in 2012, Shelagh spoke to BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Adam Pinder-Smith about why in 1946, she chose East Glos over other clubs in the county.
Julian Wellings writes, while researching the history of East Glos hockey in July 2022 I was privileged to visit Shelagh at her home in Prestbury.
She recounted her long history with East Glos from 1946, when she first moved to Gloucestershire.
Shelagh loved playing hockey from the word “go”. She knew Gloucestershire was a strong hockey county, which brought her move here from Bedford in 1946.
Gloucestershire’s strength in hockey is borne out by the fact that at the time, five internationals were playing at East Glos: Jean Finley, Peggy Lodge, Rachel Sudbury, Jean Arkell and Mary Eyre. The first team played at more of a regional level against the likes of South Wales, Exeter and Birmingham. In contrast, the second and third teams played more locally.
Shelagh’s early memories of playing for East Glos were a tunic which was much too short, stockings, a suspender belt, a long-sleeved white shirt, and an East Glos tie. “It was awful and very hot”, she recalls.
Shelagh’s journey from her home in Lydney, where she was a teacher, was difficult. It involved two bus rides and a walk from the bus station to East Glos. Such was her dedication that she used to stay overnight at Mary Eyre’s parents’ home in Prestbury so that she could also play Sunday matches.
She played left wing for East Glos from 1946 to 1968 and represented the west. Thanks to hours of practice together, she formed a formidable goal-scoring partnership with Mary Eyre at left inner. She was appointed an “A” umpire in 1972 and officiated at six internationals.
Shelagh recalls how high standards were expected of players, and they would never have dreamed of arguing with an umpire. When she became an umpire herself in later life, she recalls the only time she had to show a red card was to a father who was instructing his daughter a little too enthusiastically.
Shelagh Davson (right) with Mary Eyre, 2003
A significant change came in 1964. Previously hockey members had enjoyed relatively low subscriptions; however, costs started to rise as the sport became more professional. That meant fees were payable nationally and regionally. At the same time, the club rules changed, meaning no club section could run its own accounts. The club took over the accounts, resulting in less freedom of choice and less support for players.
In 1993, four grass courts (courts 14 to 17) were converted to astroturf with a grant from the Foundation of Sports and Arts, gifts and loans from members. The courts were floodlit from the edges, which allowed junior hockey to be practised. At that time, hockey competitions had to be played on astroturf, so the grass pitch at the rear of the club’s grounds was seldom used.
Towards the end of her playing days, Shelagh seamlessly moved into coaching and selecting for Gloucestershire Women’s Hockey Association, a role she undertook until the GHA was formed in 1999. Shelagh was county president from 1982 to 1987.
Young players for three generations have benefitted from her love of the game and determination to see that every young player has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Into her mid-eighties, Shelagh continued to be heavily involved in running the junior section at East Glos. Every Wednesday, she oversaw junior training and organised the club’s under 10, 12 and 14 teams for the various tournaments and competitions.
The Mary Eyre Hockey Festival in September 2014. The event was held in memory of Mary who died in 2013. Jenny Kean, Mary’s niece (left) with Shelagh Davson (right).