It is with regret that the England Hockey Board has learned of the passing of Julia Gill. Julia died on 2nd October 2012 after a long battle with cancer.
Julia was involved in many aspects of the game. She was a member of the Southern Counties Umpires Association before progressing to the Men’s National League Panel. She served as a member of the old England Hockey Association Management Committee and more recently on the England Hockey Umpiring Committee and Technical Appointments Panel.
At club level she was a member of Epsom Hockey Club for a number of years before retirement saw her move to the West Country. Here she was heavily involved with the Devon Counties Umpire Association whilst maintaining a national role as a selector for the National Programme Umpires Association.
Julia is best known as a technical official and officiated at a number of world level events. She was an FIH Category 1 Tournament Director, which enabled her to officiate all FIH World Level events. Her career highlights included being a Technical Officer at the Athens Olympics in 2004 as well as taking the Tournament Director role both at the Junior World Cup in Santiago (CHI) in 2005 and at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (AUS). She also took the role as Technical Officer at the World Cup in Madrid (ESP) in 2006 and was a Judge at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Away from the international scene, Julia never forgot her roots and was a regular and friendly face at all levels of domestic events around the country as a Tournament Director, Technical Officer and Umpire Manager.
Commenting on the sad news, Stephen Barlow, EHB Competitions & Events Manager said: “Julia was a fantastic servant to the game. She brought a wealth of experience, guidance and good humour to all her different roles and we will miss her greatly”.
As a mark of respect all Devon clubs and those in the Investec Women’s Hockey League and Men’s Hockey League have been asked to hold a minute’s silence or applause before their games this weekend.
England Hockey Board sends its sincere condolences to Julia’s husband Bob, a sentiment echoed by the International Hockey Federation. Funeral details will be posted to the England Hockey website as soon as the information is available.
Funeral details:
The service to celebrate the life of Julia will be held at:
St Mary’s R C. Church, Higher Church Street, Barnstaple, EX32 8JE, at 2.00 p.m. on Monday 15th October.
Following the service at St. Mary’s, all guests are invited to join the family for refreshments at the Park Hotel, Taw Vale, Barnstaple, EX32 9AE.Donations if desired to the North Devon Chemotherapy Unit Appeal by retiring collection or c/o W Gayton and Sons, Funeral Directors, Lauderdale Hopperstyle, Barnstaple, EX31 2LB. Tel 01271 342196
Julia particularly requested there to be no sad faces or sombre dress!
In order to have an understanding of the number of people planning to join us on Monday, please can those from hockey (Devon, NPUA and England) please send an email to Jane Nockolds to confirm. Her email address is: janenockolds@btinternet.com
Source Material: England Hockey
