Oral History Interview: Anne Ellis

Partial Transcript: ELLIS: My name is Anne Ellis and I was born on September 21st 1940, makes me almost 75.

Segment Synopsis: Anne Ellis introduces herself.

Keywords: Date of birth

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Could you tell me how you started in hockey then? What set you off?

Segment Synopsis: Ellis recalls her memories of being introduced to hockey at school and her progression to junior and then senior county level. She discusses the support from her family and the early death of her father.

Keywords: Family; Father; Gowerton--United Kingdom (UK); Grammar School; Gwyneth Thompson; Lilleshall Hall National Sports Centre; Mary Eyre; Rugby; School; South Wales Region/South Wales (territory); Tour; United Kingdom (UK); Wales

Subjects: Life Outside of Hockey--Family--Childhood Recollection of Others--Player Teams--Girls--County Teams--Girls--School Teams--Women--County Teams--Women--Touring

Partial Transcript: ELLIS: After I left school I went to Barry College and it was close to the Penarth Club

Segment Synopsis: Ellis recalls playing for Penarth Hockey Club when she started college in Barry.

Keywords: Ceri ODonnell; College; Eirianwen Thomas; June Brown; Penarth Hockey Club; South Wales Region/South Wales (territory)

Subjects: Teams--Women--College & University Teams--Women--County Teams--Women--Territory

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Tell me about your internationals, playing for Wales

Segment Synopsis: Ellis recalls her international trials and touring America with Wales and playing at the 1963 IFWHA Conference and Tournament.

Keywords: Goucher College; International; Lilleshall Hall National Sports Centre; Tour; Towson--United States of America (USA); Trials; United States of America (USA); Val Robinson; Verona Nolan; Wales

Subjects: Hockey Venues--Lilleshall Hall National Sports Centre IFWHA Conference & Tournament--1963 Towson Teams--Women--International Teams--Women--Touring Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: What was it like playing at Wembley?

Segment Synopsis: Ellis discusses her experiences of playing for and coaching Wales at Wembley Stadium.

Keywords: England; Grass; International; Wales; Wembley Stadium

Subjects: Coaching & Management--International Hockey Homes & Stadia--Wembley Stadium Playing Surfaces Teams--Women--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Tell me how it was that you got to be captain.

Segment Synopsis: Ellis recalls being elected as Wales captain by her teammates on the back of her coaching ability and on-the-field leadership qualities and her transition to full-time coach.

Keywords: International; Wales

Subjects: Captaincy Coaching & Management--International Teams--Women--International

Partial Transcript: ELLIS: And again, another wonderful memory was '75 when we went to Scotland to the World Cup and we played England in the Final.

Segment Synopsis: Ellis talks about playing in the IFWHA World Championships in 1975 and recalls the Wales team's unexpected route to the Final.

Keywords: Australia; Edinburgh--United Kingdom (UK); England; International; International Federation of Womens Hockey Associations (IFWHA); Netherlands; Scotland; Wales

Subjects: IFWHA World Championship--1975 Edinburgh Teams--Women--International Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Yes, how did you move from Wales to Great Britain?

Segment Synopsis: Ellis discusses her appointment as Great Britain captain and her despondency at the subsequent British boycott of the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games following Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. It would have been the first Olympics to feature women's hockey.

Keywords: Afghanistan; Australia; Great Britain; Great Britain Hockey; Mary Russell Vick; Moscow--Russia; New Zealand; Olympics/Olympic Games; Russia; United Kingdom (UK); United States of America (USA)

Subjects: Captaincy Olympic Games--1980 Moscow Politics Teams--Women--International Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: So, tell me how you made the transition into being a coach at that level.

Segment Synopsis: Ellis discusses her approach to coaching and coaching courses and how her international experience helped her gain respect. She briefly refers to her record number of consecutive caps for Wales and excellent injury record.

Keywords: Coaching Course; England; Great Britain; Injury; International; International Caps; Lilleshall Hall National Sports Centre; Olympics/Olympic Games; Record; United Kingdom (UK); Wales

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Club Coaching & Management--International Fitness & Injury Teams--Women--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: And then you moved into administration, didn't you?

Segment Synopsis: Ellis discusses her various administrative positions in hockey, from sitting on to chairing committees and boards and from Wales through Great Britain to the FIH. She refers to the impact she was able to make on the global development of youth hockey whilst at the FIH and on the development of hockey for the disabled.

Keywords: "Give Youth a Voice"; Chairperson; Gabrielle van Doorn; Gareth Davies; Great Britain Hockey; International Hockey Federation (FIH); Norman Hughes; Sports Council for Wales; Vice-chairperson; Welsh Hockey Union; World Youth Championship; Youth Development Committee

Subjects: Administration & Finances--International Administration & Finances--National Administration & Finances--Tournaments Coaching & Management--Club Para Field Hockey Tournaments--Festival Tournaments--International Tournaments--Junior

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Hockey has taken you all over the world. Erm, have you had any particularly interesting experiences abroad?

Segment Synopsis: Ellis speaks about the life-long friendships she has forged throughout her distinguished hockey career.

Keywords: Adele Boyd; Australia; Judith Wolstenholme/Judy Wolstenholme/Judith Smiley/Judy Smiley; United States of America (USA); Wembley Stadium

Subjects: Recollection of Others--Player Social & Friendships

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: What about the, erm, the players of today?

Segment Synopsis: Ellis draws comparisons between the game she played and the modern game played today. She reflects on the more 'professional' side of the modern game, its dynamism and the money involved. She also compares rule changes and playing surfaces and reminisces on the touring and friendships of her own era.

Keywords: "Host Family"; AstroTurf/Artificial Turf; Commonwealth Games; Fundraising; Grass; Halves; Lancaster--United States of America (USA); Manchester--United Kingdom (UK); Medal; Olympics/Olympic Games; Quarters; Reverse Stick (Tomahawk); Rina Van Zijl; Snooky Nook Sports Complex; South Africa; Substitute; Teaching; Tour; United States of America (USA); Wales; Wembley Stadium

Subjects: Administration & Finances--Grants & Funding Administration & Finances--Personal Amateurism & Professionalism Hockey Homes, Venues & Stadia Indoor Hockey Life Outside of Hockey--Career Playing Surfaces Rules Social & Friendships Teams--Women--International Teams--Women--Touring Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Is there anything we've missed that you'd like to add in?

Segment Synopsis: Ellis concludes by discussing her current work on the Commonwealth Games and her pleasure at receiving honours from the Queen.

Keywords: Australia; Commonwealth Games; Dundee--United Kingdom (UK); Glasgow--United Kingdom (UK); Hockey Wales; Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE); Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE); President; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; Queen Elizabeth II; Scotland; Wembley Stadium

Subjects: Administration & Finances--National Awards--Recognition Hockey Homes, Venues & Stadia Tournaments--International Volunteering