At the annual CSSC awards dinner, for many in attendance, the highlight of the ceremony is often the presentation of the Merit Awards. 

As the most prestigious of our awards, these are reserved for volunteers who have demonstrated a highly meritorious contribution and sustained voluntary service to CSSC and its members for ten or more years.

The recipient will have shown integrity in representing their area, region, sports body or departmental association. And will have had a positive and distinctive impact on CSSC’s activities in their capacity as a volunteer. What makes the Merit Award winners even more coveted, is they are nominated by their organisation, region or area upon which they have had an impact. Ensuring recognition from those peers they work most closely with.

In this year’s 2024 awards ceremony, nine deserving volunteers received a Merit Award.

Maria Cocking

Maria joined HM Land Registry in 2004, joining her local sports and social committee arranging women’s football training, soon after. She is currently the lead for the promotions team and Treasurer. Among her many accomplishments Maria has held roles of National Organiser for athletics, squash, LR Leisure Awards, virtual events and LR Leisure Challenge. In the past, Maria was on her local area association committee and regularly organised coach trips both in the UK and abroad, promoting all things CSSC in her local office. As a supporter and advocate of CSSC, she is quite simply without equal and completely irreplaceable. LR Leisure is where it is today because of her innovation and drive and our place and position within CSSC is in great part down to her.

David Finch 

David has been the Defence Sports and Recreation Association (DSRA) Treasurer for 20 years. Dedicating his time to positively benefit the civilians within Defence. During this time, he has taken DSRA into the new digital age, navigating new online financial systems and auditing requirements. David has supported the association through new Chairs, new General Managers, the covid pandemic and a modernisation in 2023, using his knowledge, experience and dedication to drive sport forward within Defence. Through an ever-changing landscape, David has provided the association with continuity and is always on hand to support the team when they need help. Continually looking for innovative ways to improve the association for both its sustainability and its members.

John Hall 

John joined the CSAA Committee in 1975 holding a number of roles over the last 50 years, including that of Life Vice President since 1993. John was Race Walking Secretary from 1975 - 2014, Ladies Team Manager from 2002 - 2017 and CSSC Sportsperson of the Year in 1989 for his Race Walking exploits. He continues to play an active role in CSAA events arranging officials and looking after the athletics programme. He continues to officiate at events and still competes in the Track & Field and Race Walking competitions. John is also a key member of the DSRA Board helping to shape the association priorities and activity each year. In addition to supporting the financial aspects of DSRA, John has also supported the running of key events including the MOD Sports Days.

Cheryl Johnson 

Cheryl has been a member of CSSC since she first started work for the Valuation Office in 1977. She was an active office volunteer arranging social events including darts, quiz nights and parties. With the additional complication of having a young family, Cheryl progressed onto the local area committee. With the merger of the Dover Canterbury and Thanet Areas the new East Kent Area started to grow with Cheryl’s help. Cheryl is much more than Miss Marlowe as we affectionately call her. She joins in and helps with many of our events. It is very difficult to sum up almost 35 years of volunteering, but Cheryl remains a major reason why East Kent grew from 1,500 members to 5,000. She helps and encourages others and is always available for advice and to listen.

Sue Marshall 

Sue joined the Suffolk and North Essex Area Association as a volunteer in January 2010 and has been a committed and active volunteer ever since. She attends all the monthly area association meetings and enthusiastically takes part in planning and contributing ideas, including arranging the widely popular Christmas Dinner Dance. She was the former rambles organiser and has been membership secretary since 2014. Sue is a great advocate for CSSC, and when non-members join in with area events, she tells them about the benefits of becoming a member. At events Sue attends as a member, she is never shy to put herself forward to help the event organiser and has a happy, go-to approach. Sue is a valued member of the Suffolk and North Essex Area Association volunteer committee.

Lorraine March-Killen

Lorraine started out as Deputy Treasurer back in 2015 and took over as Treasurer in 2019, organising a wide variety of events for members since joining the committee. Lorraine has introduced a variety of offers for local members to engage with, and throughout lockdown she introduced ‘summer specials’ and ‘winter specials’ to entice people to get out and about and using their membership at local venues, helping the area to retain a large proportion of the membership at such a challenging time. Lorraine has been fantastic at recruiting new CSSC members, and this is shown by their increase in members year after year. Lorraine understands that CSSC’s primary focus is bringing people together, and it’s lovely to see this in action with all the events throughout the year. Her heart truly is in the right place and she always wants what’s best for our members.

Claire Newman

Claire joined the committee by accident in 1996 as a very active member of the FGSSA (Feltham Garrison Sports and Social Association) for all this time, taking up the Chair in 2017. Claire has participated in many athletics events as part of the Mad Mappers running in MOD Sports days and CSSC Cross Country events. She has won the MOD Victrix Ludorum 3 times! No mean feat when up against hundreds of other competitors! In her role as Chair, she has welcomed many people onto the Committee, providing them with all the necessary encouragement to succeed in their roles, providing guidance and support throughout. Claire led the team when they were nominated and won the CSSC Haywood Trophy for the best Civil Service Sports Club in 2020.

Graham Wayland

Graham’s service and commitment to Civil Service Men’s Hockey has been immense and highly impressive. Graham has managed the Team Secretary’s role with great success and patience throughout some of the most difficult years. During his role as Secretary, Graham has encouraged playing members to become volunteers to assist with running the Association and to ensure that succession planning in key roles is achieved. Graham can be seen on the touchline of all Men’s events and in the past two years has organised the Hancock and Evans Tournament. Graham has worked closely with CSSC Head Office to rewrite a constitution suitable for the current day, liaising closely with committee members and is greatly respected amongst all the players and officials.

Nominate your local volunteer for a Merit Award

If you know of a volunteer who has supported CSSC, it’s members, regions or areas for ten or more years and deserves recognition for their dedication, support and enthusiasm, look out for this year’s nomination email towards the second half of the year.