Wendy White

Wendy White was at the heart of netball in Wales for more than five decades. A former international player herself, she won seven caps as a Wing Defence. She had the honour of playing in the first Netball World Championships, which were held in Eastbourne in 1963. She then went on to coach the Welsh side at the 1971, 1975 and 1979 tournaments.

She had many attributes, both on and off the court, and as well as becoming an international Umpire, she also published two education books on umpiring. In 1992, she wrote ‘Netball Umpires in Control’ alongside Shirley Winton. In 1994, ‘Play by the Rules’ was published. In later years, she was key in the development of Welsh Netball’s Bench Officials.

As an international Coach, her credits included the Wales Senior side (1968-1980), Wales U21 (1969-1971 and 1980-1987) and the Welsh Schools (1969-1971). She was also a Welsh Selector at various age groups over many years. Wendy won the Welsh Coach of the Year award in 1985 and a year later carried off the title of UK Coach of the Year for Women’s Team Sports.

Part of the prize for the 1986 Coach of the Year award was a trip to Australia. This visit was so enjoyable that in 1987 she decided to move there to work. Wendy worked for the All Australia Netball Association at first, then for the Queensland Netball Association.

On her return home in 1991, she became the first Technical Director for Welsh Netball. In this role, she developed the first coaching and umpiring awards schemes for Wales.

Her contribution to Welsh Netball was invaluable. As a volunteer, she held various roles including, Vice-President, Hon Chairman, General Secretary, Umpiring Secretary, Coaching Secretary. In 2000, when Wales hosted the World Youth Championships in Cardiff, she was an influential member of the Organising Committee. Her passion, vast knowledge and understanding of netball in Wales was remarkable. An avid record keeper she was always the first port of call on Welsh Netball history.

Outside of Wales, she was an Executive Committee member of the International Federation of Netball Associations between 1997-99; she represented Wales at the Members Council in 1983 and at Congress in 2003, 2009 & 2011; she was also involved with the Federation of European Netball Associations. She also served as a member of the Sports Council for Wales and was Secretary of the Dance Council for Wales.

Among her other roles were Hon Secretary for the Glamorgan and South Wales Netball Associations and the Welsh Colleges of Sport Association. She was also a founder member, Secretary and Coach of the Barrians Netball Club, Chair of the Dinas Netball Club and President of the Cardiff & District Netball Association.

Originally from Barry, Wendy moved to Caldicot with her family at the age of 15, but she returned to the town of her birth to train as a PE teacher at Barry College. She later became a Senior Lecturer in Human Movement Studies at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Wendy received the British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours List in 2012. In 2017, following her death, Welsh Netball dedicated their two match series against Samoa to their former coach. The Welsh team won the Wendy White Series 2-0. Welsh Netball also struck a special trophy to be played for in her name.

Wendy Bartlett White: Born May, 1940; died 15 August, 2016