The second annual Volunteers’ Day was held at the Hockey Museum on the afternoon of Wednesday 26 October 2016, with around 25 people in attendance including special guest Peter Savage, long time hockey photographer and journalist, his wife Stella and family members. Curator Mike Smith opened proceedings and Chair of the Trustees Katie Dodd (left) followed on with an update on the scoping study to investigate hockey’s international heritage. 
Numerous volunteers then gave brief updates on various projects, collections and the exhibitions the Museum had held in 2016, and Curatorial Assistant Shane Smith presented details of the proposed Museum membership scheme. Guest speaker and double Olympian Simon Mason (right) gave a very eloquent potted history of Peter Savage’s extensive work in hockey and Simon also talked about his experiences in Rio. Volunteer Evelyn Somerville gave an amusing talk on the ongoing Oral History Project with highlights from some of the interviews conducted so far. It was then announced the THM’s Oral History Collection will henceforth be known as the “Peter Savage Oral History Collection”. Peter (below, left with his wife, Stella and THM Oral History Lead, Eveleyn Somerville) was very pleased and emotional, before the real surprise of the afternoon took place when a personal message was relayed to him from Japan by Great Britain and England hockey Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh and Helen Richardson-Walsh. The successful proceedings were brought to a close by Katie Dodd.
Peter Savage was later to post on his website:
“The proudest day of my life? It could well be! I’ve dedicated a huge amount of my life to hockey. It’s not just a sport, but almost an international fellowship who share a common belief in sportsmanship and ethics, whilst at the same time playing a highly competitive and exciting game. Although I was a player (but not a very good one) I have spent much of the last 30 years photographing and reporting on hockey.
“For much of the 30 years I wondered whether anyone had noticed or even cared about my contribution to hockey. So I got a special thrill on Wednesday when The Hockey Museum dedicated its oral history collection to me. Highlights of the day, in addition to being among friends, was a very nice pen picture of me presented by TV commentator, pundit and Olympian, Simon Mason (pictured), and a message from GB Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh and Helen Richardson-Walsh.
“I am not a very emotional person, but I found I was crying (for joy) during some stages of the proceedings. My profound thanks to everyone at the THM for making me so proud.”
Lynne Morgan, 8 November 2016
