News 2022

Enquiry  Donate

Avtar Singh Sohal Warrior

 

Avtar Singh Sohal (affectionately known as Tari), now 83, is widely respected as the greatest Kenyan hockey player of all time. His elite hockey career began when he represented British Kenya (Kenya was then a colony of the British Empire) during the Rome Olympic Games of 1960, continuing to play hockey for and captain an independent Kenya at a further 3 Olympic Games: 1964 (Tokyo), 1968 (Mexico) and 1972 (Munich).

Avtar was recently awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior – one of Kenya’s highest orders of merit – during the Jamhuri Day celebrations in December 2021. Earlier this month (March 2022) Avtar was further honoured by his hockey club – Sikh Union in Nairobi – with a permanent exhibition of his hockey memorabilia.

Avtar has retained close ties with British hockey, in particular with the South Asian diaspora community, many of whom emigrated to Britain from Kenya following its independence. Avtar was elected as Vice President of Spencer Hockey Club during the mid-2000s. Even though he is based in Nairobi, Kenya, he is well acquainted with Spencer and always visits and supports them when he is in UK.

 

The Exhibition And Event

On 1 March 2022, Sikh Union Club hosted an impressive event which saw the opening of a dedicated exhibition space in the Sikh Union clubhouse celebrating the lifetime achievements of Avtar Singh Sohal.

The afternoon began with Avtar taking a majestic walk through a guard of honour of raised hockey sticks mounted by former and current Kenyan internationals on the club’s ‘astro’ pitch – which Avtar was instrumental in creating.

View the guard of honour on YouTube by following this link: YouTube | Avtar Singh Sohal guard of honour.

The guest of honour for the event, Cabinet Secretary for Sports & Culture, Amina Mohamed, officially opened the exhibition. The exhibits of hockey memorabilia relating to Avtar’s six decades in hockey include uniforms, trophies, certificates, press cuttings, pins badges, medals and priceless historical photos.

Enjoy a tour of Avtar's lifetime achievements exhibition with organiser Deljinder Singh Mudhar (Del) by following this link: YouTube | Tour of Avtar Singh Sohal's exhibition at Sikh Union Club.

 

Avtar Singh Sohal exhibition 01
     

Avtar Singh Sohal's exhibition at Sikh Union Club, which showcases his
personal memorablia and celebrates his lifetime achievements.

Bottom right: Avtar (Tari) relaxes during a break in proceedings.

     
Avtar Singh Sohal exhibition 02        Avtar Singh Sohal at Sikh Union Club

 

To conclude the event in his honour, Avtar thanked his dear wife Ripudaman Kaur Sohal and his closing statement speaks volumes about the man’s humility and dedication to hockey:

“In a lifetime that has passed by eight swift decades filled with blood, sweat, and tears, I stand here this
evening a very grateful and humbled man as witness for all those who have been a part of my journey.”

Avtar’s exhibition is a dedicated area within the Sikh Union Club’s Mahan Hall of Fame, which celebrates the club’s past achievers across all its participant sports. Several of its inductees now reside in Britain.

The Mahan Hall of Fame was opened by International Hockey Federation (FIH) past president Leandro Negre on 19 September 2016. The Hockey Museum Founder-Trustee and Sikh hockey historian Diljit Singh Bahra (Dil) was instrumental in its creation alongside a great team from the club committee. For his efforts, Dil was made an Honorary Life Member of Sikh Union Club in February 2020.

 

Leandro Negre and Avtar Sohal 01        Leandro Negre and Avtar Sohal 02
     

Avtar Singh Sohal with FIH past president Leandro Negre at the opening of the Sikh Union Hall of Fame in 2016.

Image credits (above and below): Deljinder Singh Mudhar.

  

Personal Reflection

Your author (Tochi Panesar, The Hockey Museum Trustee) considers Avtar (Tari) a firm friend with whom he has spectated at the Rio Olympic Games and the 2018 men’s Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneshwar and is all set to spectate at 2023 men’s Hockey World Cup, also in Bhubaneshwar. Avtar’s enthusiasm for the game, personal drive and tenacity to make things happen is brilliant and infectious.

I am looking forward to the release of his illustrated photobiography which is due to be published later in 2022.

The instigators and drivers of event to commemorate Avtar’s lifetime achievements were the aforementioned Del Mudhar, a very able, hardworking and accomplished young man, and historian Dil Bahra. Both men are a credit to Sikh Union Club and to the international Sikh community, as of course is Avtar Singh Sohal.

 

Biographical Information

Avtar Singh Sohal:

  • Played in four Olympic Games and was captain in the last three – 1960,1964, 1968 and 1972.
  • Captained Kenya in their first ever World Cup in 1971 where they finished fourth, narrowly missing a place in the final.
  • Was Head Coach during the 1984 Olympic Games and a judge at Olympic Games in 1988.
  • Is Kenya’s most decorated and longest-serving hockey captain.
  • Has been awarded the post-nominal letters OLY by the World Olympians Association for taking part in 6 Olympic Games (4 as a player).
  • Has been awarded The order of the Grand Warrior, one of Kenya’s highest orders of merit.
  • Entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1979 for the most international hockey caps.
  • Was awarded the FIH Diploma of Merit in 2000.
  • Was awarded Head of State Commendation by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki in 2005; and
  • Continues to coach the Sikh Union Club’s juniors – the Tigers.

pdf

Enjoy a fuller biography and career timeline of Avtar Singh Sohal by clicking the PDF icon to the right. The document was compiled by Del Mudher and Dil Bahra.

Alternatively, visit the Sikh’s in Hockey website: Sikhs in Hockey | Captains | Avtar Sohal

 

Tochi Panesar

Maureen Short’s GB honours cap awarded to the I M Marsh PE College

07 December 2022
Maureen Short’s GB honours cap awarded to the I M Marsh PE College

In October Great Britain Hockey and The Hockey Museum presented the Great Britain (GB) honours cap of Maureen Short to the college where she previously taught. The I M Marsh College of Physical Education (I M Marsh CPE), where Maureen had been a much-respected hockey lecturer for many years, is...

We have found Joe Ahmad!

24 November 2022
We have found Joe Ahmad!

Regular readers will recall that 8 months ago we made an appeal to help us find Great Britain (GB) Munich Olympian Sheikh Mahmood Ahmad, or Joe as he is known to hockey. This was so that we could present him with his GB honours cap. We made extensive enquiries around...

The Hockey Museum Acquires New Artwork Of Stanley Shoveller, The ‘Prince Of Centre Forwards’

09 November 2022
The Hockey Museum Acquires New Artwork Of Stanley Shoveller, The ‘Prince Of Centre Forwards’

The collections within The Hockey Museum (THM) cover over 25 different subject areas and they often service or contribute towards our 30 or so active study subjects. Most of the objects and material within the museum collections are donated by kind friends of hockey but occasionally we must buy items...

History at the Heart of Joint Bid to Host the 2026 FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup

13 October 2022
History at the Heart of Joint Bid to Host the 2026 FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup

England Hockey (EH) and Hockey Wales (HW) have submitted a joint bid to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to host the men’s Hockey World Cup in 2026. If successful, the tournament would be on the 40th anniversary of the 1986 men’s Hockey World Cup in Willesden, London – the last...

New History and Heritage Professionals Strengthen the Board

16 September 2022
New History and Heritage Professionals Strengthen the Board

The Board of Trustees is delighted to announce that three new Trustees have been appointed to help further the work of The Hockey Museum. All three have extensive professional knowledge gained from working within the museum sector or sporting academia and will be invaluable in ensuring our continued growth and...

Past Students of Bedford College of Physical Education Receive Honorary Degrees

16 September 2022
Past Students of Bedford College of Physical Education Receive Honorary Degrees

On Saturday 10 September, over 300 former students from Bedford College of Physical Education (BCPE) came together to be awarded honorary degrees from the University of Bedford. The first student to be invited to receive her degree was Hilda Moore (nee Hammond), a former England hockey player, who at 100...

Scottish GB Cap Presentations: Recognising the Tartan Contribution

15 September 2022
Scottish GB Cap Presentations: Recognising the Tartan Contribution

On the 27 August, over 40 Scottish former Great Britain (GB) players came together at Uddingston Hockey Club to be presented with their GB honours caps. Scottish Hockey, with the support of The Hockey Museum (THM), Hockey Internationals Club and GB Hockey organised this special event, which took place as...

The Death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

09 September 2022
The Death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

  The Hockey Museum mourns the passing and reflects warmly on the life of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The thoughts of our trustees, staff and volunteers are with the Royal Family, and we offer our condolences to England Hockey's patron, Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex, daughter-in-law of...

Purchase The Magic of Wembley Book

09 September 2022
Purchase The Magic of Wembley Book

  Discover the inspirational history of the England women’s annual hockey match at Wembley Stadium between 1951-1991. Purchase The Magic of Wembley for only £10 plus postage (UK £3.00, Europe £7.00, rest of the world £9.00). Payment via PayPal using the email address This email address is being protected from...

Politics at the National Hockey Stadium in Pakistan

19 August 2022
Politics at the National Hockey Stadium in Pakistan

  Aerial view of the National Hockey Stadiumin Lahore, Pakistan.   Last weekend, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan held a political event at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore. To accommodate the expected crowds, the former Pakistan cricket captain had the stadium's blue turf pitch removed. This...

Kwan Browne’s Incredible Gesture for the Commonwealth Games 2022

17 August 2022
Kwan Browne’s Incredible Gesture for the Commonwealth Games 2022

Prior to the Commonwealth Games (CWG) bronze medal match between England men and South Africa, South Africa coach Iain Shippey posted a story on Instagram (shown below) about England Assistant Coach Kwandwane ‘Kwan’ Browne. It is a story that embodies the values of hockey and of Kwan’s career, where he...

"Why Woking?"

22 July 2022
"Why Woking?"

“Why Woking?” is possibly the most frequently asked question by visitors to The Hockey Museum (THM) and by many people we chat to on the phone or in meetings. The simple answer is that Woking is the home of THM’s founder, President and Honorary Curator Mike Smith. The original collection...

The Jim Shepherd Collection: The Genesis of a Scottish Hockey Museum?

01 July 2022
The Jim Shepherd Collection: The Genesis of a Scottish Hockey Museum?

  Jim Shepherd (pictured) has collected a lifetime of Scottish heritage material.   Jim Shepherd, Mr Hockey from Broughty Ferry, Dundee: player, umpire, administrator, journalist, broadcaster and hockey collector. These are just a few of the titles which describe a man involved with hockey for over 60 years. During that...

USA Field Hockey Celebrates 100 Years

01 July 2022
USA Field Hockey Celebrates 100 Years

“Honour our past. Grateful for the present. Excited for the future.”   On Saturday 18 June 2022, USA Field Hockey (USAFH) celebrated its centennial with a dinner at The Union League of Philadelphia. The event, postponed from earlier in the year due to the ongoing pandemic, brought generations of individuals...

150 Years Of Teddington HC: Hockey’s Formative First Club Celebrates Its Sesquicentenary

22 June 2022
150 Years Of Teddington HC: Hockey’s Formative First Club Celebrates Its Sesquicentenary

Last weekend, on Saturday 18 June 2022, Teddington Hockey Club (THC) celebrated its 150th anniversary (sesquicentenary) with a Gala Dinner and by re-creating a hockey match from the period of their founding in 1871. These events were followed by intra-club junior and adult hockey tournaments on the Sunday.   The...

Fundraising Trustee Needed

16 June 2022
Fundraising Trustee Needed

  Are you an experienced professional looking for an opportunity to actively contribute to the development of a young, vibrant and rapidly expanding museum?   Who We Are The Hockey Museum is the first and only museum of hockey in the world and aims to preserve, share and celebrate the...

130 Honours Caps Awarded to GB Hockey Players Over Jubilee Weekend

10 June 2022
130 Honours Caps Awarded to GB Hockey Players Over Jubilee Weekend

During the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, 130 former Great Britain (GB) hockey players came together across two days at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre to receive their GB honours caps.              Copyright: England Hockey / WorldSportPics.com Will Palmer   The Caps and the Presentation...

Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club: A Decade Of Volunteering And A Century Of Success

26 May 2022
Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club: A Decade Of Volunteering And A Century Of Success

Since The Hockey Museum (THM) acquired its first premises in Woking in 2011, the support of the ‘hockey family’ has been integral to its growth. The core of its volunteers has traditionally been drawn from local hockey clubs including Ashford, Staines, Wimbledon, Teddington, Richmond and Woking itself. These days THM...

Great Britain Honours Cap Presentations To 1978-80 Squad Members

28 April 2022
Great Britain Honours Cap Presentations To 1978-80 Squad Members

  The Great Britains women's squad 1978-1980. Standing (left to right): Janet Burrows, Marilyn Pugh (nee Morgan), Judith Foston, Maggie Souyave, Linda Carr, Jane Swinnerton-Ions, Janet Jones (nee Jurischka), Rosie Sykes, Pam Stuart Williams, Jenny Givan Redpath, Sheila Morrow, Shirley Ellis-Morgan, Elan Borrowman. Sitting (left to right): Barbara Hambly, Pauline...

Uncovering The Story Of Vera Cox – A Talk By Frances Thompson

28 April 2022
Uncovering The Story Of Vera Cox – A Talk By Frances Thompson

  England women’s hockey team vs Ireland, March 1911. Vera Cox is seated centrally holding a ball.   The Hockey Museum is hosting a short talk by visiting researcher Frances Thompson on the life of her relative Vera Cox. The talk will be held at The Hockey Museum in Woking,...

'Hockey Family' Invited To A Celebration Of The Life Of The Late Mike Ward

01 April 2022
'Hockey Family' Invited To A Celebration Of The Life Of The Late Mike Ward

  An event celebrating the life of the late Mike Ward will be held on 13 May 2022 at their Chaplegate home ground, at the Bournemouth University Clubhouse complex. Address: Christchurch Road, East Parley BH23 6BL. The general arrival time will be around 13:00 for 13:30. There will be a...

London reunion for the Munich 1972 GB Olympic squad

31 March 2022
London reunion for the Munich 1972 GB Olympic squad

   The 1972 Great Britain men's squad during their reunion earlier this month. Back row: Peter Ewles, John French, Bernie Cotton, Keith Sinclair, Peter Mills, Paul Svehlik, Peter Marsh, Rui Saldanha.Front row: Graham Evans, Terry Gregg, Mike Crowe, Tony Ekins, Mike Corby, Chris Langhorne, Richard Oliver.   By Keith Sinclair...

The Hockey Museum's Research Leads Peter Smith To Receive His GB Cap

17 March 2022
The Hockey Museum's Research Leads Peter Smith To Receive His GB Cap

  Peter Smith receives his cap from GB Hockey President Sheila Morrow.   On 10 March, Great Britain Hockey President Sheila Morrow travelled to Somerset to present Peter Smith with his honours cap. Peter is nowadays confined to bed but remains mentally very active. Sheila spent an enjoyable few hours...

Avtar Singh Sohal: Kenya Recognises Its Most Distinguished Hockey Son

16 March 2022
Avtar Singh Sohal: Kenya Recognises Its Most Distinguished Hockey Son

  Avtar Singh Sohal (affectionately known as Tari), now 83, is widely respected as the greatest Kenyan hockey player of all time. His elite hockey career began when he represented British Kenya (Kenya was then a colony of the British Empire) during the Rome Olympic Games of 1960, continuing to...

The Hockey Museum Moves On

04 March 2022
The Hockey Museum Moves On

  Out-going Curator and The Hockey Museum Founder Mike Smith congratulates in-coming Curator Shane Smith.   On Thursday 24 February, The Hockey Museum (THM) ‘re-launched’ itself with a new exhibition for 40 or so invited guests. At this event THM’s creator, Mike Smith, announced his forthcoming retirement as Curator in...

The Hockey Museum Exhibition Re-launches With Special Presentations

04 March 2022
The Hockey Museum Exhibition Re-launches With Special Presentations

The Hockey Museum (THM) re-launched its exhibition on Thursday 24 February at our home in 13 High Street, Woking.   Unveiling of the Olympic Quilts The centrepiece of the evening was the unveiling of the amazing five-drop Olympic Hockey Quilts created by local artist Pat Deacon. The artwork captures all...

Val Robinson OBE Passes Away

14 February 2022
Val Robinson OBE Passes Away

  Val Robinson in action at Wembley stadium in 1974.   The Hockey Museum (THM) is very saddened to hear news of the death of Val Robinson on Sunday 13 February. The 'hockey family' will mourn the loss of one of their greatest players. Val played for England from 1963...

Home

About Us & Visiting

Support Us

Contact Us

Subscribe To THM Mailing List

News

Features

Artefacts & Archives

Oral Histories

Library

Research & Study Topics

Education

Quizzes & Games

International Focus

Our Partners

BathUni Library Logo     EH Logo on white    FIH Logo Large    HLF compact cmyk   Mercian BLACK 2011 12   WokingBC RGB logo     CMYK Portrait

S5 Box

Login

Register

You need to enable user registration from User Manager/Options in the backend of Joomla before this module will activate.