A RETIRED teacher whose name is synonymous with school sport in Chester has spoken of his pride at winning the top prize at the Cheshire & Warrington Sports Partnership Awards.
Dennis Dorman, 57, received the special recognition award at the Eaton Park event as reward for the legacy he has left behind after 36 years of teaching PE in the city.
Dennis, who joined Queen’s Park High School from college and stayed with the school until his retirement last summer, said: “I am really proud to have received the award and for what I have achieved. It wasn’t until I retired that I realised what a big difference I have hopefully made.”
Dennis, whose award was voted for by the public, took on the role of school sports co-ordinator for both Queen’s Park High and The Catholic High toward the end of his teaching career.
The father-of-three from Ewloe was praised at the ceremony for his ‘outstanding commitment’ to developing opportunities for young people.
One of the driving forces behind making Chester Youth Club a thriving organisation, he was also hailed as a ‘role model’ and a ‘fantastic advocate for the exceptional work the Chester School Sports Partnership do’.
Dennis, whose eldest son Andy is a Wales international footballer, still helps out at Dodleston Primary School.
But most of his free time is taken up by his voluntary role as treasurer and secretary of the Chester Schools FA.
Dennis, who has been honoured by the English Schools FA for his 25 years of service with Chester Schoolboys, automatically qualified for the Cheshire & Warrington Sports Partnership Awards after his victory at the Cheshire West and Chester Sports Awards.
The keen golfer was one of two winners of the special recognition award at the Cheshire West and Chester ceremony, the other being long-serving University of Chester sports administrator Jane Hodson.
One of Dennis’ former pupils, Stephen Jameson, also had reason to celebrate on the night.
Stephen was named volunteer of the year while the club he runs, the highly regarded Deva Handball Club, was named the joint recipient of the club of the year title.
City of Chester Triathlon Club’s Sally Napthen, from Hoole, won coach of the year while Tarporley-based Deva handball player Ben Tyler and No Man’s Heath rower Lucy Burgess won the junior sports achiever of the year awards.
