Ken Edwards, a volleyball legend.

It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of our friend and a Volleyball legend Ken Edwards, who passed away last weekend. Many of you, who like me, have been involved in Volleyball more years than they would like to admit, had know Ken in a wide range of Volleyball roles, locally, regionally and nationally, there can’t be many who have had as many roles as Ken over the years, and always with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.

Ken refereeing a sitting volleyball match.

Ken first encountered Volleyball whilst at college in the early 70’s. After college he returned to Essex and helped establish the Essex Volleyball Association. From there it was onwards and upwards joining Volleyball England, or the English Volleyball Association (EVA) as it was then known, as the President of the Competitions Commission and then onto the Board. As a qualified referee and coach Ken was always in demand but he was drawn to sitting volleyball and was instrumental in this discipline of our sport, working do develop the sitting grand prix and working with the GB teams heading to the London 2012 Paralympics.

Keith Nicholls, a previous chair of Volleyball England has fond memories of Ken “Ken was at the centre of volleyball in Essex, the Eastern Region and nationally with the EVA since the early 1970’s. When there was need for someone to step up and take on a task Ken was always willing, be it national competitions, the Board of Volleyball England, playing with his club Chelmsford and later setting up Essex Pirates Sitting Volleyball  Ken was always willing to accept the role and challenge.

Ken (no 7) taking part in the sitting Grand Prix.

In recent years he was heavily involved in sitting volleyball, coaching and promoting it. In 2017 he led a review of Sitting Volleyball that resulted in Volleyball England providing funding to set up the Sitting Volleyball Grand Prix. That is a legacy his family and all those playing sitting volleyball can be proud of and grateful for. A man of many talents whose love of the sport was evident and his willingness to help at all levels unbounded. The game will miss Ken.”

If you have some memories of Ken you would like to share send them to foundation@volleyballengland.org