Wokingham

A Wokingham resident who has dedicated many years to Wokingham Hockey Club, Wokingham Methodist Church, as well as being a school governor at two of the district’s schools, has received official thanks for all his hard work for the local community from the district council chairman Cllr Angus Ross.

After each main council meeting, the chairman usually presents flowers, or an alternative gift, to a person, group or organisation that has given good service to the community. To mark the council meeting in September, a gift was presented to Mike Coke at a presentation on Wednesday September 27. Mike was nominated for this award by Methodist Minister for Wokingham Rev Bryan Coates and by Cllr David Chopping.

Mike joined Wokingham Hockey Club as a player back in 1980 and he has been playing and supporting the club ever since. Over the years, Mike has held a number of committee posts at the club and has been heavily involved with youth hockey. He has also coached the ladies’ team.

The club praised him and said: ‘He is always ready to take on any task or pick up where someone else had started a project but couldn’t finish’. As a director of a building supply company, Mike obtained much of the equipment needed to convert the old bungalow into what is now the clubhouse, which is used by all members of the club.

Despite the hockey club taking up much of his time, Mike also found time to volunteer as a school governor. He is a long serving governor at Hawthorns and Addington schools. He has been a community governor at Hawthorns Primary School in Woosehill since August 1996 and has also held the position of vice-chair and chair of governors. He has been a governor at Addington School in Woodley since July 2003.

A member of the Methodist Church in Wokingham for over 30 years, Mike has taken on the role of clerk of works for their extension project and aims to achieve the goal of completion in time for the Wokingham Winter Carnival later this year.

Wokingham District Council chairman Cllr Angus Ross said: “Mike has dedicated an enormous amount of time to Wokingham Hockey Club and has also volunteered many hours as a school governor, playing an important part in the lives of many of the district’s pupils. Being a governor is demanding, but worthwhile. He has also been heavily involved in the Methodist Church’s new extension which will come to fruition very soon. I am very pleased to be able to thank him in this small way for all his hard work and to recognise his contribution to this local club and to the district’s schools.”

Mike Coke said “ I was very pleased and honoured to have been selected for this award. I very much enjoy making a small contribution to children’s education. It has been a fantastic privilege to be the project manager for the new church community centre.”

Cllr David Chopping said: “Mike’s commitment is unbelievable. He once umpired four matches in a row – over five hours of patience, understanding and coping with hyped up sports people!”

Rev Bryan Coates, Methodist minister for Wokingham, said: “I would like to echo the thanks of the chairman Cllr Ross. Mike has devoted his time, energy and expertise in liasing with the contractors on behalf of the church to see the new development through and we are all enormously grateful.”

Wokingham District Council