The Hockey Museum (THM) is very proud to announce that its recent past Chair, Katie Dodd, has been awarded an MBE for services to hockey in the New Year’s Honours List.

Katie Dodd in action for England against Wales at Wembley in 1981.

Katie has been involved in hockey for the best part of fifty years and her roles within the sport are hugely significant. She reached the highest level as a player, winning twenty-six caps for England in the 1980s and captaining the nation to a bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships. Off the pitch she served more than twenty-five years at Ealing Ladies Hockey Club and became a hugely respected administrator at club, county, southern region and national level. She was also a member of the committee of the All England Women’s Hockey Association (AEWHA). Notably she was a member of the England Hockey Board from 2008 to 2015. In 2018 Katie became one of only eight people to have been awarded the England Hockey Member of Honour, the highest accolade given by the governing body.

In more recent years Katie became the first Chair of the Board of Trustees of THM in 2011, retiring in 2019; she remains a Trustee and an active volunteer. This was the period when THM acquired its first ‘permanent home’ which provided the springboard for the museum’s development on many fronts. During her tenure as Chair the museum attracted a significant team of volunteers and was able to take on staff to help manage its development. In 2012 THM became a registered charity and in 2018 achieved accredited museum status from Arts Council England, thanks to strategic direction from Katie. In the same year THM received the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) President’s Award, which recognised the work done internationally as well as at home.

Katie (right) receives the FIH President’s Award from then England Hockey President Sue Bodycomb during the Hockey Writers’ Club luncheon in 2019.

The increased exposure of the museum saw over 100 collections a year arriving at the Woking premises and the overall collection now totals over seventy-five thousand items. Regular exhibitions at international events further enhance the museum’s reputation, as do numerous study projects, including one to accurately catalogue the national teams’ playing records, which Katie is particularly involved with.

Her contribution to the sport has been quite remarkable, as is her spirit, love for the game and willingness to help others for the good of hockey. She fully deserves to be made an MBE and congratulations go to her from all her colleagues at THM.

When Katie heard of the award she said:

“What an amazing honour! But hockey is a team sport so I feel this award is also recognition of the many inspirational, passionate and committed people I have been privileged to play and work alongside throughout my hockey career. The last ten years at The Hockey Museum has been a particularly special time with the staff, volunteers, Trustees and supporters pulling together to make it an amazing journey. That said, there is still so much more to do!”

In addition to the above – yes, there is more – Katie also supports THM financially as a Friend. If you’ve found yourself suitably inspired by her immense efforts to drive the museum forward, you may like to show your support by joining her as a fellow Friend of The Hockey Museum or by making an alternative donation.

Details can be found here.