Frank wrote tournament software for the British Skeet Shooting Association and it still runs three annual competitions . Frank shoots once a week , and once a month he runs an American skeet shoot at Bisley ( 2020 Award for Best Shooting Ground in the U . K .). He is the current Surrey Skeet Open champion ( five times since 2011 ).
In addition to skeet shooting , Frank also plays table tennis once a week and that ’ s how he got involved with the U3A . The U3A movement is a collection of local groups that run member-led learning and activities for those no longer in full-time work across the U . K . Members draw upon their knowledge and experience to teach and learn from each other for pleasure . Learning is its own reward . It ’ s all voluntary ; it ’ s local , social , friendly , low-cost , and open to all — rather like pickleball . There are now at least 28 U3A pickleball groups in the country .
During lockdown Frank developed a whole member / groups / timetabling and administration system to support the Camberley U3A for about 1,600 members . He is a trustee of this U3A as IT coordinator , having previously served as its treasurer .
Frank started playing pickleball in 2016 at Runnymede Royals and started the Camberley U3A Pickleball Group in 2017 ( the first in the country ). He plays pickleball three times a week . In 2018 he won bronze medals in Mixed Doubles in Amsterdam , the Men ’ s Doubles outdoor tournament in Ramsgate , and the World SSIPA Championships in Denton , Texas . Frank doesn ’ t really like recreational play — he likes to compete , which is why , even though he is on the organizing committee of the English OPEN , he will also be competing at the tournament !
It was in 2018 that I was introduced to Frank . We were both encouraged to start a governing body by different players . We recognized each other as drivers of results and we agreed to work on the challenge of setting up an NGB for pickleball . Frank wrote the bylaws , set the company up and created the website structure . I set up the bank accounts , created most of the website content and all the communications . Frank has been responsible for drawing up the annual financial statements for pbE .
We have worked very closely together right from the start , sometimes talking several times a day ( at any time between 8 a . m . and 1 a . m .). Frank has been my sounding board as well as our technical guru .
In preparation for our first English OPEN tournament in 2019 , after reviewing the registration and tournament software available at the time , Frank decided to conceptualize and develop bespoke solutions for PickleballEngland . The tournament ran flawlessly , and worldwide compliments were received for the ease of use of the software , player information available , and the smooth running of the tournament .
How many young associations are lucky enough to have bespoke
25 countries are part of the European Pickleball Federation
event registration software and tournament software ? When Frank decides to volunteer for something , he commits his time and energy to the success of it . Pickleball is his stress-buster .
Last year Frank was PickleballEngland ’ s point person for the Unify Pickleball Task Force , hoping that this group could encourage reconciliation amongst the different parties . Sadly , the unification didn ’ t happen , but it did help solidify the friendship of Frank , Pierre and Marc , and they all agreed that it was in Europe ’ s best interest to extend those relationships across all the European governing bodies . Again , Frank worked his magic with the development of bylaws that all the member countries could align around , a fully democratic federation with one vote per member country . I wasn ’ t surprised when Frank was elected by the countries to the board , and I wasn ’ t surprised that the board elected him president . I think they all could see what I see — a man devoted to the growth of pickleball and democracy .
Asked what drives him , Frank responded , “ Passion , professionalism and pride in everything I commit to doing , and the satisfaction of seeing the ideas and efforts come to successful fruition .” •
JULY / AUGUST 2023 | MAGAZINE 75