Oral History Interview: Dawn Bonner

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: This is an interview with Lydia Ackrell and Dawn Bonner for The Hockey Museum. Today's date is Saturday 30th September 2023. The interviewer is Lydia, the interviewee is Dawn, er, Dawn please can we start by you saying and spelling your full name please.
BONNER: It's Dawn Bonner.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner introduces herself by stating her name and date of birth.

Keywords: Date of Birth

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: So, to start with then, um, can you tell me a little bit about your childhood and early years growing up?
BONNER: Um, I think it was fair to say, so um, my dad died when I was very young.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner describes her childhood, memories growing up with nine siblings and career outside of hockey.

Keywords: A-Level; Administrator; Brother; Bus; COVID-19; Children; Chiswick--United Kingdom (UK); Father; GCSE; Husband; Insurance; Kilburn--United Kingdom (UK); London--United Kingdom (UK); Procurement; QBE Insurance Europe Ltd; Sister; Transport for London; Mother

Subjects: Life Outside of Hockey--Career; Education and Schooling

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: So, if we can go back to your route into hockey?
BONNER: Yes.
ACKRELL: So you said when you told your mum and she wasn't particularly pleased with it, but was that at school when you started playing?

Segment Synopsis: Bonner describes her route into hockey and her transition from playing hockey for Ealing Ladies Hockey Club to umpiring. She also explains her recent involvement in mentoring umpires from other countries who are looking to umpire at international level.

Keywords: Administrator; Captain; Coach; Committee; Cricket; Ealing Hockey Club; Ealing Ladies Hockey Club; Ealing--United Kingdom (UK); Easter; England; FIH Umpire Manager; Hanwell--United Kingdom (UK); International Umpire; Janette Ann Brittin/Janette Brittin; Mentoring; Middlesex (county); Mother; National Programme Umpiring Association (NPUA); Netball; Physical Education Teacher; Selection; Selection; Slough Hockey Club; Slough--United Kingdom (UK); Tennis; Third Eleven; Trials; Umpire; Umpire Assessment; Umpire Assessor; Umpire Development Group; Umpire Manager; Umpires for Europe; Umpires for Nations; Vice-chairperson; Whistle; School

Subjects: Coaching & Management--International; Education and Schooling; Recollection of Others--Player; Social & Friendships; Teams--Women--Club; Umpiring--Club; Umpiring--International; Administration & Finances--Club

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: So, if we can go back to your earlier umpiring days, when you said about your level one assessment, that took you three times to pass, um, do you know why it took you three times?
BONNER: Yeah, I mean for me Lydia, it was just so nerve wracking.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner describes why it took her three attempts to pass her level one umpire assessment. She recounts what she learnt from each assessment
and how she uses these lessons when giving advice to future umpires. Bonner comments on the presence of male umpire assessors and being the first black woman to complete the level three umpire coach assessment.

Keywords: England Hockey (EH); Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group; International Umpire; Pitch; Umpire; Umpire Coach; Vice-president; Whistle; Umpire Assessment

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Umpiring

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: Again, staying on your umpiring part of your career, when you were travelling to games did you have to finance this yourself?
BONNER: Yes, and we still do.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner explains why funding your own career is difficult within hockey and how she would like there to be more support for individuals who are less fortunate.

Keywords: Brother; Daughter; England Hockey (EH); Expenses; Goalkeeper; Hockey Stick; Money; Netball; Umpire

Subjects: International Travel; Kit & Equipment

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: So, do you think, what you were saying earlier about hockey being a top down sport, do you think its quite an elitist sport?
BONNER: Very much so.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner explains why she believes that hockey is an elitist sport.

Keywords: "Off the cuff"; Access; Hockey Stick; State School; Money

Subjects: Kit & Equipment

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: Can you tell me a little bit about when you were accepted as a trainee FIH Umpire Manager? Was that 2014?
BONNER: 2014. 2014 I went as a candidate and passed first time, actually.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner recounts the time she was nominated as a trainee umpire manager and her memories of her first international tournament in Vienna as a trainee. She describes what she learnt during her traineeship, her hopes for umpiring at a Commonwealth Games and ageism within hockey.

Keywords: #EquallyAmazing; Ageism; Commonwealth Games; European Hockey Federation (EHF); International Match; International Umpire; Jean Duncan; Mentoring; Olympics/Olympic Games; Umpire; Umpire Coach; Umpire Manager; Umpires for Europe; Umpires for Nations; Vienna--Austria; FIH Umpire Manager

Subjects: International Travel; Recollection of Others--Umpire; Tournaments--International; Umpiring--International; Coaching & Management--Umpiring

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: When COVID hit, how, how did the COVID-19 pandemic impact umpiring in England?
BONNER: So, all of England Hockey was shutdown for hockey.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner describes the effect that the COVID-19 had on hockey in England and how this compared to the international set up.

Keywords: Changing Rooms; Covid Officer; Czechia; England Hockey (EH); European Hockey Federation (EHF); Face Mask; Hotel; International Match; Pitch; Slovenia; Testing Centre; COVID-19

Subjects: Rules; Tournaments--International; Umpiring--International; International Travel

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: Um, so if we could talk a little bit about your umpiring style. How would you describe your style in comparison to the early days?
BONNER: Um, yeah. In terms of umpiring style, I think I was respected as an umpire.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner describes her approach to umpiring and how umpiring has changed over the years. She also compares her umpiring style to her coaching style.

Keywords: Body language; Captain; National League; Rulebook; Umpire Coach; Yellow card; Umpire

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Umpiring; Umpiring--Club

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: Can you talk me through what characteristics or styles, um, you think make a good umpire manager and coach? So I suppose you've touched on a few, is there any more where you think, that quality makes someone really good?
BONNER: Yeah, in terms of an umpire manager and coach.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner explains what qualities make a good umpire manager and coach.

Keywords: Mentoring; National League; Umpire Manager; Umpire Coach

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Umpiring

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: Is there anything you dislike about being an umpire manager and coach?
BONNER: Oh yes, the admin.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner explains what she likes and dislikes about being an umpire manager and coach.

Keywords: International Match; International Umpire; Mentoring; Report; Umpire

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Umpiring; Recollection of Others--Umpire; Tournaments--International; Umpiring--International

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: Um, so if we could talk a little bit now about your ethnicity and gender, um, so you're a black woman who is a very successful umpire, umpire coach, so, can, are you happy if we talk about this aspect of your life both within and outside of hockey?
BONNER: Yes.

Segment Synopsis: NEED TO FILL.

Keywords: Chairperson; Commercial insurance; Director; Ealing Hockey Club; England Hockey (EH); Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Ethnicity target; France; Insurance; Multicultural; Red card; Tackle; Umpire; Zoom call; Unconscious bias

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Umpiring; Prejudice & Inequality--Racial

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: Was there anyone, either when you were playing, or, er, umpiring and now a coach, where they've had a shared experience to you, or where they've opened up about their experiences of racism, or, even, um, not necessarily just racism but gender as well, about being a woman?
BONNER: Um, so I can give you an example of one where I'm being a woman and I can give you an example of racism from last season that's happened to two umpires, that's really interesting.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner recounts the time she was treated differently because of her gender and a more recent act of racism that she witnessed while assessing two umpires.

Keywords: Assistant Coach; England; India; Indian Gymkhana Hockey Club; National League; Notebook; Pitch; Umpire Assessment; Umpire Assessor; Umpire

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Umpiring; Prejudice & Inequality--Racial; Rules; Umpiring--Club; Prejudice & Inequality--Gender

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: You mentioned, I think it was in your workplace more than hockey but there's like targets that you need to meet for, is that for like for members of staff so that they're representative of all communities and genders, is that what it relates to?
BONNER: Yes it is.
ACKRELL: Is there something similar in hockey, for that?

Segment Synopsis: Bonner outlines the targets set by England Hockey's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group to make hockey more inclusive. She explains how she has a similar targets within her workplace. Bonner then goes onto outline some of the challenges that face England Hockey as they try to make hockey an inclusive sport: a lack of facilities, a lack of access for those individuals in deprived areas and its disappearance from the school curriculum. She highlights what steps England Hockey have taken to overcome these barriers which prevent access, but explains there there is still a long way to go.

Keywords: Curriculum; Darcey Tabitha Bourne/Darcey Bourne; England; England Hockey (EH); Goalkeeper; Government; Hampstead & Westminster Hockey Club; Insurance; Luton--United Kingdom (UK); Money; QBE Insurance Europe Ltd; Rhys Smith; School; Southgate Hockey Club; Sport England; Surbiton Hockey Club; Wimbledon Hockey Club; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group

Subjects: Education and Schooling; History & Heritage; Inclusivity & Accessibility; Prejudice & Inequality--Gender; Prejudice & Inequality--Racial; Recollection of Others--Player; Prejudice & Inequality--Social/Class

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: You mentioned it just now, about the Advisory Group, that you're part of. Could you talk a bit more about that? So, when was it set up? Why was it set up and your role within it?
BONNER: Um, set up about, of god how long ago now, it was set up about two years ago, set up during lockdown.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner explains her role within England Hockey’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group and some of the positive changes it has implemented.

Keywords: Alison Faiers; Birmingham--United Kingdom (UK); Commonwealth Games; Cricket; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group; Hockey shorts; Lockdown; Olympics/Olympic Games; Rachel Williams; Tess Howard; Umpire; England Hockey (EH)

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Umpiring; Disability; History & Heritage; Inclusivity & Accessibility; Prejudice & Inequality--Social/Class; Rules; Social & Friendships; Olympic Games--2024 Paris

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: Um, so, I suppose, kinda like, just reflecting now, um, have you got one like one stand out memorable moment from your career so far in hockey?
BONNER: It has to be, and we've already talked about it, becoming an international umpire manager.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner reflects on her career, highlighting her achievements and regrets.

Keywords: England Hockey (EH); International Hockey Federation (FIH); International Umpire Manager; Mother; Umpire Coach; Vice-president; Umpire

Subjects: Life Outside of Hockey--Family; Social & Friendships; Umpiring--International; Coaching & Management--Umpiring

Partial Transcript: ACKRELL: Is there anything else that you'd like to mention today, that we haven't discussed?
BONNER: Well, that's, that's a very broad question Lydia. I, I have had and continue to have a really good career, um, in hockey.

Segment Synopsis: Bonner ends her interview by reflecting on her career and on what changes she would like to see happen within hockey.

Keywords: Coach; Umpire Coach; Friends

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Umpiring; Social & Friendships