Jean Arnold receives the British Empire Medal for services to hockey and education.

On 5 November 2021, Jean Arnold received the British Empire Medal for services to hockey and education from Mark Blundell, Lieutenant of Merseyside, at a ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall.

She has been inspirational in promoting and encouraging children and young people in the sport of hockey. It would be impossible to count the number of hours that Jean has devoted to hockey for the benefit of others.

Jean attended Nonington College of Physical Education (PE) in Kent between 1960 and 1963, going on to teach PE at La Sagesse High School in Grassendale, Liverpool. Her students remember her as an inspirational and dynamic teacher who was instrumental in encouraging her pupils to follow in her PE-teaching footsteps.

Today, aged 82, Jean is still the driving force of junior hockey in Liverpool. She established the City of Liverpool Junior Hockey Club in 2015 as an extension of Liverpool Ladies’ Hockey Club, the oldest hockey club in Liverpool. Jean’s energy and enthusiasm is unrivalled. She coaches at least three times every week and runs holiday hockey camps. She organises competitions and runs teams from Under 9s to Under 19s.

Jean has previously donated a collection to THM relating to women’s hockey in Liverpool and including the Lord Mayor’s Cup. Click here to discover more.