It is with great sadness that we heard the news of the passing of one of our former hockey members on Boxing Day - Erica Revell (nee Batchelor) who was a member of the club in the 1980s and 1990s.

Erica joined the club as a school girl, had a spell away at University and returned to the BHHHC hockey fold. A player in the ladies section and mixed team at a time when we toured the UK attending different hockey festivals in Glasgow, Isle of Man and notably Folkestone for 3 years running in the early 1990s. A number of current members have many fun memories of these times, high jinks and very much of the view – ‘what goes on tour, stays on tour!’ The friendships nurtured in the Berko Mixed at that time resulted in a number of marriages - Deb and Tony Potton, Roger and Terri Payton, Emma and Nick Cave, Vicky and Gary Stanwell, Liz and Jamie Holderness and Erica and Mark Revell.

We will remember Erica for her big beaming smile and great sense of fun. She was a demon defender on the pitch and held a very special position off the pitch - in the bar. At our regular after match mixed Sunday games, we would challenge the opposition to a beer race putting Erica forward as our representative and smile slyly as we were mocked that she was a mere ‘GIRL’. Little did the opposition know what they were up against as she had a particular talent that we were very proud of - she was our special weapon - and at the end of the countdown she downed that pint in less than 3 seconds to the amazement of our opponents and everyone else in the bar. Mark and Erica were also keen cyclists and the only couple known to have a custom built ‘his and hers’ tandem. They left the club when work moved them to Bristol and then they settled in Malmsbury, Wiltshire with their two boys now aged 18 and 22.

Erica’s funeral Service will be held on Thursday 26th January - 12 noon at: North Wiltshire Crematorium, Swindon Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 8ET to be followed by an opportunity to meet, hug and remember happy times at: The Churchill, Swindon Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 8ET.

Erica was a modern-day Samaritan so if anyone would like to make a charitable donation to The Samaritans to help them help people in their time of need please
Donate to the Samaritans

If anyone wishes to attend Erica’s service and /or the reception, please get in contact with Mark so he can confirm numbers.