Bedford Borough Council is thrilled to announce the resounding success of the 29th annual Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards. Held on Monday, 9 December 2024 at the Bedford Corn Exchange, the ceremony celebrated the outstanding achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations across the borough.
With a record-breaking 157 nominations and more than 515 guests in attendance, the evening showcased the incredible depth and breadth of sporting talent within Bedford Borough. The awards recognised a diverse range of accomplishments, from elite athletes to dedicated volunteers and inspiring community initiatives
2024 Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards Winners
Club of the Year
Sponsored by BeActive
Bedford Hockey Club
Bedford Hockey Club’s strength is the range of hockey it offers, in terms of age and performance level. The juniors always put in impressive performances at local tournaments, entering multiple teams at U18, 10 and 12 with the U14, 16 and 18s entering the England Hockey Cup Competition. The Club continues to demonstrate success at all team levels, with most of the 14 adult squads, from development to national league, finishing mid or high table, the Men 7s Team finishing top. The Women’s Over Team 55s finished Tier 2 Silver medallists in the English Hockey National Championship and twelve players received national Master’s caps with individuals representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Community Club / Group Awards
(sponsored by Better and GLL Sports Foundation)
Parkinson's UK Bedford and District Support Group
Exercise is an important part of managing Parkinson’s, an incurable, progressive neurological condition. Since the pandemic, Parkinson’s UK in Bedford has evolved from a branch focusing heavily on fundraising, to a support group. This focuses on creating opportunities for local people with Parkinson’s and their partners/carers to be more active while having fun. Activities organised, funded and/or promoted by the group specifically for local people with Parkinson’s now include weekly table tennis sessions, boxercise classes, aquatic exercises, indoor bowls, Parkinson’s exercise classes at the Bedford Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre and free online exercise classes. The group is an active, sociable, inclusive community.
Community Club / Group Awards, Special Commendation
Deaf Gentle Fit Club, Access Bedfordshire
As a deaf charity, Access Bedfordshire made a significant impact by providing accessible fitness opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Their weekly deaf gentle fitness classes offer inclusive exercise and promote physical well-being for people of all levels of fitness and physical ability. They are breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of community through their classes. By offering accessible fitness options, Access Bedfordshire are empowering Deaf individuals to lead active and healthy lives. Their classes contribute to the overall health and mental well-being of the Deaf community.
Primary School of the Year
(sponsored by Times Tables Rock Stars
Ursula Taylor C of E Primary School
Break times are active whether on the playground, field or trim trail, with a wide selection of activities for lunchtimes lead by the Ursula Taylor Sports Leaders. The Sports Leaders have a say in sports that they would like to play at lunchtime and are involved in organising and leading many of the break time activities. Ursula Taylor provides cross curricular lessons throughout the school – ie orienteering course with Maths and English tasks, two hours PE delivered to all children per week and have their own swimming pool, which helps deliver two weeks of swimming every year to the whole school from Reception to Year 6. Ursula Taylor offers opportunities to all children regardless of gender – everyone is given equal opportunities.
Secondary School of the Year
Kempston Academy
Kempston Academy PE department offers a range of sports across Key Stage 3 giving students the opportunity to participate in 12 different sports across the school year. Including, but not exclusively; table tennis, rugby, flag football and dance. Students in Key Stage 4 have autonomy of the curriculum path that they take, either following a traditional sports route, where they participate in sports such as football and rugby. Or a varied sports route where they play sports including kin ball and badminton. The PE department participates in regular extra curricular sports, entering a range of team and individual sports through the schools sports partnership, but also entering county and national competition.
Young Volunteer of the Year
(sponsored by The Bedford Physical Education Old Students Association)
Manpriya Sira – Hockey
Over the past year, Manpriya has enhanced her coaching skills at Bedford Hockey club, earning the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. She led the U8s and U10s to victory in all county tournaments, remaining unbeaten. To support new players, she formed specialised groups, teaching fundamentals and fostering social skills, while introducing a weekly medal ceremony to recognise exceptional effort. Manpriya also umpired tournaments and organised the Bedford Hockey Club Juniors Tournament for two years. Additionally, she is fundraising for the new pitch and provides private coaching to young kids free of charge, boosting their confidence and skills.
Young Volunteer of the Year, Special Commendation
Sam Miller – Water Sports
Sam is always the first to volunteer and has demonstrated great energy and drive to complete his silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. He has also completed a large number of paddlesport qualifications including PSRC (Paddlesports Safety and Rescue Course) and then the Paddlesports Instructor (PSI). Sam has also joined the Canoe Trail Team on white water days, acting as a volunteer on rescues and supporting other paddlers on a social and professional basis despite his young age. He takes time to develop bushcraft and climbing as part of wider love of outdoor activities. Sam also volunteers as an assistant Cub Scout leader helping young people develop outdoor skills.
Junior Disability Sports Personality of the Year
(sponsored by Gale Family Charity Trust)
Archie Freeman – Basketball
Archie has shown great personal endeavour to overcome adversity and take part. Archie has a condition so rare (64 people in the world) it does not have a name yet it is 16p12.2 Reoccurring Microdeletion Syndrome. In simple terms this mean that Archie cannot retain information for a long period of time and it is degenerative. Alongside this he also has Autism Spectrum Disorder, Global Developmental Delay, Microcephaly and he is loosing his eyesight. Despite all of this Archie has beaten the odds and continues to progress every week. When he first joined Bedford Thunder Basketball Club, his coordination (due to his condition) was average at best falling over frequently and unable to dribble the ball. He now is one of the strongest people in the group and wants to keep playing and does not let his disability stop him from playing with abled bodied athletes.
Junior Personality of the Year
(sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bedford Park
Thaila-Jade Mason – Athletics
Thaila-Jade is talented in many Athletic disciplines, in Long Jump she is ranked 2nd in the UK U17’s with a personal best of 5.92m. She came 1st in the English Schools Championships, 2nd in the Schools International v Scotland, Ireland and Wales, 2nd in the UK School Sports Championships and 1st in the South of England Indoor and Outdoor Championships. In Heptathlon Thaila-Jade is ranked 5th in the UK U17s with 4627 points, she came 2nd in the English Schools Heptathlon Championships and was selected for the Schools International Pentathlon. Finally in High Jump Thaila-Jade is ranked 10th in the UK with 1.66 metres as her personal best and came 3rd in the England Indoor Championships.
Junior Personality of the Year, Special Commendation
Rory Luddington – Sailing
Rory, age 11, represented Team GBR sailing in an optimist dinghy (GBR 6107) at Howth in Ireland during the summer. He has also competed in numerous international regattas in both the UK and overseas, including France, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. In May he represented the East of England sailing optimists in the National Team racing event held at Oxford Sailing Club. Sailing requires a high degree of commitment. Rory has sailed almost every weekend this year and will do so over the winter being on the water for long days, only returning to shore when the light fails. All his available holiday is spent on the water, working with his coaches on his technique and endurance.
Team of the Year
(sponsored by the University of Bedfordshire)
Bedford Blues Women – Rugby
Bedford Blues Women secured their second promotion in three years in the 2023/24 campaign, winning every single league fixture to finish with a 100% record. This has seen them promoted to NC 1 level, the highest level the team has ever played at, they are currently performing up and above their potential and a third promotion is still highly likely. Thanks to another stunning start to the season, they currently sit second in the league heading towards Christmas. Several members of the playing group are teachers by profession, while many others work in the community to promote the game of rugby union to the younger generation and have integrated over 100 females to the game.
Coach of the Year
(sponsored by The Bedford College Group)
Amber Forman – Dance
Amber teaches the competition squad for Inspire Performing Arts in street dance and lyrical dance and had success with teams having recently been placements 2nd and 3rd in competitions. She also creates solos and duets dances for the competition squads with many of them placing in the top 6 throughout the year. Amber choreographed along-side another teacher for the national entertainment awards and the dancers were selected to perform at the 02 next October. She creates dances for many events including those for charity. Amber has been recently diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and still amazes everyone day in day out with the care and knowledge she shows to everyone she meets.
Community Person Award
(sponsored by the Bedford Sports Foundation)
Harrison Barnes – Personal Training
Harrison has developed a community (Barnes Active) whereby individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities can access physical activity and movement in a safe, calm, non-intimidating environment. It is the only SEND specific gym setting in Bedford Borough and is a hub for individuals with disabilities to access exercise, where a commercial gym may not be suitable for them. Harrison coaches a range of clients from young people out of school, to older clients who need support to stay fit and healthy. Harrison and his team recently raised money to fund a defibrillator for the premises in Stagsden, along with contributions to 2 charities - Look UK and the CVI Society.
Community Person Award, Special Commendation
Abid Hussain – Cricket
Abid has been the driving force behind the Queens Park Cricket Club for the past 25 years, singlehandedly ensuring its survival and success. Operating in a community where sports participation is low, Abid found himself managing multiple teams without the necessary support or resources. His unwavering passion for cricket and deep commitment to his community have been the lifeline of the club, allowing it to thrive despite numerous challenges. Working with underprivileged children, Abid has consistently found ways to keep the club running, creating countless cherished memories for the many young players who have trained under him.
Unsung Hero
(sponsored by The Harpur Trust)
Jean Fitch – Hockey
Jean is a volunteer who is an important vertebra in the backbone of Bedford Hockey Club. She works as Publicity Officer for Bedford Hockey Club committee, but is so much more than that; she innovated and currently organises the highly regarded and inclusive Walking Hockey session; Jean is the photographer for the club, sometimes taking and adding online up to 2,000 photographs per weekend of games held at the club; she manages Bedford Hockey Club’s social media and is currently helping organise fund raising for the club to replace the current pitches. Jean has been a member of Bedford Hockey Club since 1995 and now, in her late 50s, she still plays in goal and as a breast cancer survivor, she shows no signs of slowing down nor losing any motivation in her passion for the Club and for hockey. Jean hates personal attention, but the club would like to say a massive thank you for all that she does.
Adult Disability Sports Personality of the Year
(sponsored by The Manor Hospital (part of Circle Health Group)
John Hollowell – Lawn Bowls
Having lost his vision 4 years ago John took up Lawn Bowls and has been playing for 3 years now. John won the World Championship gold and bronze medals at the Disability Bowls World Championships and won National Visually Impaired Singles and Pairs titles represented England on four occasions. John regularly plays against fully sighted players four to five times a week and has already selected to represent England at the blind bowls world championships in New Zealand in two years’ time and will have trials for selection for the commonwealth games taking place in 2026. Moreover John is the Regional Development Officer for Visually Impaired Bowls England covering the East of England trying to attract more visually impaired people to get active and take up a sport.
Adult Personality of the Year
(sponsored by Jewson Partnership Solutions)
Laura Allen – Judo
Laura achieved Junior Bronze and Senior Silver in the Judo British Championships. She also won Junior Silver in the Scottish Open Judo Tournament and Senior Silver in the English Open Judo Tournament. In Laura’s first trip abroad, she came 7th place Seniors in the Danish Open Judo Tournament. In the London Open Judo Tournament, she received the Gold for Junior and Senior, and in the British Judo Association Northern Home Counties Laura came second in the Open Senior section. In the North Hertfordshire Team Event Laura won Gold and Heart of England Senior Silver and Bronze at the England Closed Championship.
Service to Sport
(sponsored by Bedford Borough Council)
Ian Brown – Football
Ian has been playing Football since the age of 11. Now 43 years old, he has played in goal for all those years and is extremely passionate about his position. He has played for many clubs such as Hemel Hempstead, Bedford Town, Biggleswade Town, Kempston Rovers and as a youth played for Watford FC and Birmingham FC. Ian currently coaches the goalkeepers from Real Bedford and many youth goalkeepers locally. He provides goalkeeping techniques and advice but also gives the participants confidence to believe in themselves and know their worth.
Service to Sport, Special Commendation
Jan Emms – Football
Jan has made significant contributions to women’s football over several decades, not only through her achievements as a player but also through her role in promoting the sport and preserving its history. Jan was part of the 1971 England Women’s Team, which competed in the unofficial Women’s World Cup in Mexico. Her participation as a Centre-Forward highlighted the potential of women in football during a time when the sport faced institutional barriers. She scored two goals during the tournament, showcasing her talent on an international stage. Over the years, Jan has been vocal about the struggles she and her teammates faced, including their ban from football upon returning to England. Jan and her teammates have now been celebrated as pioneers, receiving honours such as bespoke commemorative caps and in 2024, they were featured in the documentary Copa 71 and the 'Lost Lionesses' book, which highlights their story and the struggles they faced.
Service to Sport, Special Commendation
Carl Hazelwood – Boxing
Carl has coached at Bedford Amateur Boxing Club since 1978 after retiring from professional boxing. He has been the Head Coach at the gym for the last 46 years; dedicating much of his time, in a voluntary capacity, to train boxers of all ages (11-40 years old). He has also spent a significant amount of time and effort doing match making and taking Bedford Boxers to contests throughout the UK and Europe. Carl is a very patient and approachable coach; utilising his extensive knowledge and expertise to train young aspiring boxers to fulfil their sporting potential. Carl is a humble man with a big heart; who is a great mentor.
For the full list of nominees and their amazing achievements please download the 2024 Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards programme (PDF).
