Emeritus Award for Rosemary Napp

Each year the Sport and Recreation Alliance (S&RA) makes an Emeritus Award to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to sport and recreation. Previous recipients have included Bill Slater, Dame Mary Peters and Dame Mary Glen Haig so the winners know that they are in highly distinguished company.

This year Rosemary Napp, National Manager of British Rowing, received the Emeritus Award which was presented by HRH the Earl of Wessex, at the Sport & Recreation Alliance AGM held at St. James’s Palace on Wednesday 20th July.

The Award recognises a life-time service to sport and recreation, and to the S&RA. The citation for Rosemary covered her work at the British Canoe Union, and since 1989 for British Rowing, as well as 20 years on the S&RA Water Recreation Division during which time she has served as both Deputy Chairman and Chairman.

In accepting the Award Rosemary welcomed the opportunity to recognise the work of those working in sports development, both staff and volunteers, who “often worked quietly and behind the scenes, but with passion and commitment.  Their contribution will be so important in creating the sporting legacy we all hope to see from London 2012”.

The citation described Rosemary as being “a key component in one of the country’s most successful governing bodies. Her achievements with rowing are too numerous to list today but there are many highlights. She helped to launch Project Oarsome, a school and club links scheme which has resulted in 40% of state schools now offering rowing to their pupils.  She has overseen the widespread introduction and development of indoor rowing. Inner city rowing schemes operate across the country and offer an important pathway to clubs for people who would otherwise never set foot in a boat.   And she has helped to create a scheme called Explore Rowing which will provide a much-needed participation legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Congratulations from all at British Rowing.