Oral History Interview: Audrey Appleby

Partial Transcript: APPLEBY: My name is Audrey Appleby and I suppose my main name, erm, reason in hockey of I'm, I'm known for [exhales] is my umpiring, as an international umpire, which is fabulous.

Segment Synopsis: Appleby introduces herself, cites her primary role within hockey and states her date of birth for the record.

Keywords: Date of birth

Subjects: Umpiring--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: [indistinguishable] You were about to tell me how you...
APPLEBY: Well...
SOMERVILLE: ...Started in hockey.

Segment Synopsis: Appleby recalls how she came to play for Ealing Ladies' Hockey Club.

Keywords: Chiswick Ladies Hockey Club; Chiswick--United Kingdom (UK); Ealing Ladies Hockey Club; Hockey Tea; Riverside Club; Tennis; World War 2

Subjects: Teams--Women--Club Volunteering

Partial Transcript: APPLEBY: And, erm, I went on doing that for quite some time playing right wing.

Segment Synopsis: Appleby recalls her route into umpiring, the result of her frustration with umpiring decisions whilst playing for Ealing Ladies. She goes on to recount her time touring with the Mudlarks.

Keywords: Ealing Ladies Hockey Club; England; Middlesex (county); Mudlarks Touring Team; Offside; Right Half; Southern Counties Womens Hockey Association (SCWHA)/South (territory); Umpire; Winger

Subjects: Teams--Women--Club Teams--Women--Touring Umpiring--Club

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: So, how did you then pursue that in terms of qualifying?

Segment Synopsis: Appleby recounts her struggle to reach the highest level of AEWHA umpiring and her determination to succeed in the face of what she perceived to be deliberate obstruction of her progression. Appleby cites two occasions where she was failed by her assessors.

Keywords: All England Womens Hockey Association (AEWHA); Barbara West; Chairperson; Ealing Ladies Hockey Club; Eastern Counties Womens Hockey Association (ECWHA)/East (territory); International Federation of Womens Hockey Associations (IFWHA); Judge; Middlesex (county); Secretary; Selectors; Southern Counties Womens Hockey Association (SCWHA)/South (territory); Umpire; Umpire Assessment; Umpiring Committee; Wembley Stadium

Subjects: Associations--County Associations--National Associations--Territory Associations--Umpiring Hockey Homes, Venues & Stadia Recollection of Others--Umpire Teams--Women--Club Teams--Women--Territory

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Tell me about the first Wembley.

Segment Synopsis: Appleby recalls her memories of the first match at Wembley Stadium in which she umpired, her preparation for it and, specifically, she recalls using the footage in an umpire coaching session some time afterward. Appleby goes on to recount her less pleasurable memories of umpiring at an IFWHA Tournment. She laments what she perceived to be deliberate obstruction of her progression which reinforced her later determination to not do unto others what had been done to her.

Keywords: International Federation of Womens Hockey Associations (IFWHA); Jane Nockolds; Leverkusen--Germany; North Hockey Umpiring Association (NHUA); Selection; Umpire; Video Analysis; Wembley Stadium; Western Counties Womens Hockey Association (WCWHA)/West (territory)

Subjects: Associations--Umpiring Coaching & Management--Umpiring Hockey Homes, Venues & Stadia IFWHA Conference & Tournament--1967 Leverkusen Recollection of Others--Umpire Tournaments--International Umpiring--International Umpiring--Territory

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: There were a lot of changes made in the way umpires were tested and, and brought through. Erm, were any of these under your auspices when you were on the umpiring committee of...
APPLEBY: Erm...
SOMERVILLE: ...All England?

Segment Synopsis: Appleby recalls how the standards expected of umpiring were raised and the rules of hockey evolved during the course of her umpiring career. She cites specific examples of matches where particular rules were implemented successfully or otherwise as well as a disastrous experience flying to Manchester to officiate a game.

Keywords: "The Sticks Rule"; Advantage; All England Womens Hockey Association (AEWHA); Chiswick--United Kingdom (UK); Heathrow Airport; International Match; Jean Cummins; Manchester--United Kingdom (UK); Netherlands; Southern Counties Womens Hockey Association (SCWHA)/South (territory); Surrey (county); Umpire; Umpiring Committee; Val Robinson; Verona Nolan

Subjects: Administration & Finances--Umpiring Associations--Umpiring Recollection of Others--Player Rules Teams--Women--International Umpiring--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Erm, you talked about a sedentary week. So, what were you doing during the week?
APPLEBY: Oh, I ran a family business.

Segment Synopsis: Appleby recalls her career away from umpiring and reminisces about her family life. She recalls her schooling and early working life during World War 2.

Keywords: Broomfield House School; Ealing Ladies Hockey Club; Family; Father; Kew; London--United Kingdom (UK); Marriage; Mother; Newsagent; North London Collegiate School; Private School; Television; Umpire; Wembley Stadium; World War 2

Subjects: Education and Schooling Hockey Homes, Venues & Stadia Life Outside of Hockey--Career Life Outside of Hockey--Family Life Outside of Hockey--Family--Childhood Teams--Women--Club

Partial Transcript: APPLEBY: I was one of the first, erm, [pause] advanced umpiring, erm, coach.

Segment Synopsis: Appleby recounts the umpire coaching sessions she oversaw and fondly recalls one her most successful students, international umpire Gill Clarke.

Keywords: All England Womens Hockey Association (AEWHA); Centenary; Gill Clarke; Hampshire (county); Olympics/Olympic Games; Scotland; The Telegraph; Umpire; Umpire Coach; Yvonne Horner

Subjects: Associations--National Coaching & Management--Umpiring Recollection of Others--Coach & Manager Recollection of Others--Umpire

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: You've seen a lot of changes in the game over the years.
APPLEBY: Oh, yes.
SOMERVILLE: What do you think has changed for the good?

Segment Synopsis: Appleby reflects on how hockey has evolved during her lifetime highlighting the positive switch to artificial pitches. She goes on to recall an anecdote about the Queen.

Keywords: All England Womens Hockey Association (AEWHA); AstroTurf/Artificial Turf; England; Goal; Hockey Family; Mary Russell Vick; Penalty Corner; Queen Elizabeth II; Television; Umpire; Umpire Assessment; Wales; Wembley Stadium

Subjects: Associations--National Hockey Homes, Venues & Stadia Playing Surfaces Recollection of Others--Administrator Recollection of Others--Celebrity Rules Teams--Women--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Audrey, you've talked about the friends that you've made in hockey and how it's all part of one family. How important has that been to you, the friends you've made through hockey?

Segment Synopsis: Appleby reflects on the friendships she forged throughout her career in hockey.

Keywords: Advantage; Biddy Burgum; Bournemouth--United Kingdom (UK); Chiswick--United Kingdom (UK); County Championship; England Hockey (EH); Freda Walker; Hockey Family; Joan Davies; Life Membership; Liz Powell; Middlesex (county); Nan Williams; Wiltshire (county)

Subjects: Recollection of Others--Player Social & Friendships

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: And you go to many matches?

Segment Synopsis: Appleby discusses her continuing interest in hockey and those rules and changes that she would not like to have had to adhere to as an umpire.

Keywords: Free Hit; Halves; Joan Davies; Microphone; Pitch Segregation; Television; Video Umpire

Subjects: Recollection of Others--Player Rules

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Overall, when you look back, erm, what's the most, what's the thing that stands out most vividly for you?

Segment Synopsis: Appleby reflects on the positives to come from her umpiring career and recalls the warm appreciation of players for whom she officiated.

Keywords: Biddy Burgum; Bridget West; Chairperson; Funeral; Joan Davies; Secretary; Umpiring Committee

Subjects: Administration & Finances--Umpiring Recollection of Others--Player