Pat Rowley writes on the passing of a great servant of hockey:
Barbara Miroy, a person who almost single-handedly ran English men's hockey for many years, died this morning (30 Nov) at the age of 91. She out-lived Neville, he husband and an equally prominent servant of the game, by 21 years.
Barbara was heavily involved in hockey for over 50 years. She will be best remembered for three things, being secretary and later personal assistant to two former Hockey Association Hon Secretary's; for organising for countless years the world famous Folkestone Easter Hockey Festival and for running the London and Home Counties Hockey Fixture Conference.
She was awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal when it was recorded "She holds a unique position in the administration of men's hockey in England. She has given unstintingly of her time and energy to a sport in which she is totally involved and to which she is utterly devoted". Robin Struthers, the then Hon. Secretary of the Hockey Association, was quoted as saying, "She is a walking encyclopaedia of hockey".
Her health had been deteriorating for some time. Last week she had a fall at home and broke her hip. It was necessary to operate but unfortunately she survived only a short time after the operation.
Barbara's funeral will not be held for at least a fortnight so that her American relatives can be present.
Editor's Note:
If, like me, you had been a fixture secretary in the days before league hockey became the norm, you would have really appreciated the work that Barbara did in organising the London Fixture Conference. I spent two spells as a club fixture secretary, on the first occasion with a brand new club. Managing to fill a blank fixture list without the Conference would have been virtually impossible, and so I am both grateful to Barbara and sad to learn of her passing.
