Tonbridge judo coach given surprise double honour

AFTER more than 40 years teaching people how to throw, trip and hold, a Tonbridge judo coach has been recognised for his commitment to the sport.
When Dick Marcroft, 71, turned up for what he thought was a usual training session at Tonbridge Judo Club last Wednesday, he was given a surprise presentation Mayor Cllr Sue Murray.
The long-serving coach was given not only an award for his decades of effort but also made an honorary life member of the British Judo Association.
"I was most surprised," he told the Kent and Sussex Courier, "but it was lovely to think that so many people cared about what I have done for judo."
Having first got involved with the club at age 23, Mr Marcroft took up coaching five years later when he achieved his first dan black belt.
Now, 43 years on, Mr Marcroft, of Bourne Park, in Golden Green, still stays fit enough to train with teenagers and has reached the rank of fourth dan.
He can often be seen riding to and from the village in his yellow jacket, clocking up some 20 miles on his bike every day.
Chris Bowles, the club's chief coach and a former double European champion, said he was himself spurred on to take up the sport by Mr Marcroft.
"Dick was the inspiration," the former Olympian said. "He used to come around in his Volkswagen Beetle and I used to be dashing out of bed to go and see him.
"I just didn't want to disappoint him, nobody did."
Mr Bowles added that the distinction bestowed upon the veteran coach was very rare and that he was being put forward for a CBE.
"To become an honorary life member is incredibly difficult, the association do not give that away lightly at all," he said.
"There are very few people who are given that accolade and he fully deserves it. He joins the elite in the sport."
As well as Mr Bowles and fellow Olympian Ray Neenen, Mr Marcroft coached his sons Andrew and Jeremy and nephew Martin to national titles in the martial art.
"There were times where it was difficult down at the club, the membership dropped and the sport took a bit of a dip but he stuck with it through thick and thin and came out the other side," Mr Bowles said.
"He's just been such a great, great asset to the club in the number of children that he has taught and the amount of parents that are coming back with their children.
"Two or three generations have gone through Dick's hands."

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