In January 2009 Fakenham Squash Club became one of the few squash clubs in Norfolk to gain England Squash’s Club Charter Silver Award,
As well as acknowledging the efficiency of the management of the club, the award also recognises the club’s efforts to promote the sport, provide a first-class coaching set up allied to an equality of opportunity for all members as well as providing a high standard of duty and care, especially to their younger members.
The award was presented to club chairman Bruce Bushell by England Squash’s regional manger Mark Williams, who said: “It’s a tremendous achievement for Fakenham. They are only the fifth Norfolk club to have gained this award. Much of the success is down to Bruce Bushell and his hard work and the commitment he puts into expanding and popularising our sport.” Bruce was also a recent recipient of the National England Squash Volunteer of the Month Award for his continued dedication to developing the sport.
The recognition is a great boost for the club and shows how much it has progressed in its desire to improve squash in Fakenham and the surrounding area. Fakenham Sports Centre Association’s General Manager Barry Futter said: “The squash club’s achievement sets a standard the club will have to live up to and our other sports will have to reach.”
Such was the squash club’s enthusiasm for the project that gaining the accreditation only took some five months to achieve. The club membership – now over 170 – is the highest in its history. It’s considered to be quite remarkable for a small town the size of Fakenham, and still rising. What is particularly pleasing is the high number of young members, now one of the biggest junior sections in the county.