Wales Netball is pleased and proud to share the news that Vice-President, Wendy Pressdee has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for Services to netball in HM the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
The BEM (formally the British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) recognises those who have made outstanding contributions to the community and in the case of Wendy, it is thoroughly deserved. Wendy has given decades of service to netball in Wales, particularly in the West Glamorganshire area. Her netball career begain in 1976 and she became secretary of the Swansea league in 1982, shortly followed by the West Glamorgan league. She had been the manager of various teams for 19 years and has served on the Board of Wales Netball for a number of years too.
Latterly, netball players young and old in Wales will recognise Wendy from her role as an official at Celtic Dragons Superleague games and National Competitions. Although she calls Gower home, Wendy travels the length and breadth of Wales to help make competitions and tournaments possible, giving hundreds of hours of service to the game every year.
On first hearing that she was to be named in the Birthday Honours List, Wendy’s reaction was shock. She said: “When I saw the envelope, I wondered what I’d done! You don’t often get letter from the cabinet office. I was shocked.” Wendy’s husband was likewise in disbelief, she added: “He didn’t believe it – he thought it was a wind-up!”
Until this weekend, Wendy had to keep the wonderful news a secret. She said: “Now it has sunk in, I’m still very surprised, but pleased.”
Reflecting on the award, Wendy was keen to thank those who have helped in her work with the netball community. In particular she paid tribute to her husband: “I would like to thank him for his patience – he doesn’t moan too much when I go away with netball.” She also expressed her gratitude to the wider community: “It’s also thanks to all the people who have support netball locally and nationally. It takes an awful lot of people to make it possible.”
Wendy will be presented with her BEM locally in the near future and then next year she will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Sarah Jones, Wales Netball CEO congratulated Wendy on being named in the Honours List. She said: “This is wonderful news and all of us at Wales Netball are delighted for Wendy. Her dedication and commitment to netball over the years has been simply incredible. Wendy is well known, and is loved across the Wales Netball family. This is a fantastic reward and recognition of the positive impact on peoples lives Wendy has.”