David Brookes

It is with great sadness that we learnt the news that former UKPA Chair and passionate supporter of UK Polocrosse Dave Brookes passed away this week.

Dave was the UK Polocrosse Chair from 2000 to 2009 and played a fundamental role in the development of polocrosse here in the UK as well as creating opportunities for players to travel the world and bring international players to the UK. Dave had a passion for bringing new players into the sport and was a huge supporter of developing polocrosse in the Pony Club, where he spent several years as the Pony Club Polocrosse Chairman as well. He was involved in setting up Regional training and tournaments, encouraging players from all around the UK and spent many hours umpiring the Juniors in the early years.

Dave was instrumental in bringing the World Cup competition to the UK in 2011 – he saw the opportunity for the UK to take a leading role in hosting the first ever World Cup in the northern hemisphere, which is not yet something we’ve been able to repeat.

Polocrosse was very much a family affair for Dave, his children Martin and Ellen Brookes were both members of Rockwood Harriers Pony Club and represented the UK on the international stage. With his wife Sue as the UKPA Secretary for several years, they created so much of the UKPA foundations and how it operates today.

We were delighted to see both Dave and Sue, along with Martin at the Yorkshire Warriors Easter training weekend in April this year, where Martin was persuaded to return to the pitch alongside some former team mates. Still keeping in touch with the international playing agenda, Dave was in Australia in 2019 for the World Cup, supporting from the side lines with Sue.

Our deepest condolences to Sue, Martin and Ellen along with their wider family.