Saturday morning's final junior coaching session of the season was tinged with emotion as Dave Merrell finally called time on a long and illustrious coaching career. Dave has been coaching first at Dunstable Squash club and latterly at the newly created Luton and Dunstable Squash and Rackets Club for the best part of two decades.

The club had organised a surprise event whereby the juniors and several of his old players turned out to reminisce and pay tribute to a great servant to the sport of squash.

Mark Williams the regional manager of England Squash and Racketball, the National Governing Body, said, "As a sport, Squash relies massively on volunteers such as Dave to keep it alive. Perhaps the most important thing a squash enthusiast can do is use their passion for the game to inspire the next generation of players. Dave has been doing this for many years and I am sure that there are many people around the local area and further a field that would not have had the opportunity to play our sport if it wasn't for Dave's hard work.

It is a real shame that volunteers do not often receive the praise and recognition that they deserve, so I am delighted to have been able to organise this small gift and two complimentary tickets to the British Grand Prix as a small token of our appreciation.

Everyone at England Squash & Racketball would like to wish Dave a very happy and deserved retirement."

Mike Palmer, Bedfordshire Junior coordinator, added, "I personally would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Dave Merrell for the great support given to Junior Squash over the past 20 yrs (at least) leaving a legacy of juniors who have continued to play squash to club level and beyond. The encouragement to establish Flitwick Juniors, and the many times (usually at short notice) covering lessons at Flitwick due to numbers and emergencies.

Dave was a founding member of the BJS (2004) coaching team and his many ideas on staging events, the provision of equipment for the Open days (the beep test being the favourite), Assessment days and matches against Flitwick Juniors were invaluable in keeping junior squash alive in Beds and making these events a success.  I wish you all the best in hanging up your coaching racket.

It has been a pleasure working along with you in a sport we are both mad about!!!"

I concluded proceedings by paying my own tribute and expressing the hope that the current coaches could carry on the fabulous work done by Dave over the years, often on his own and highlighting that if it hadn't been for the fact that there was a junior section then I wouldn't have been able to get in the door of Active Luton to keep the Lewsey Squash Centre open. In addition to the certificate, tickets and bottle of Champagne, Dave was also presented with a personalised club t-shirt!

Dave, commented, "It's great to see how the juniors section has grown over the past couple of years and that is testament to the coaching team. Alan Copley, who roped me into coaching, told me that there comes a time when you know that it's right to hand on the baton and that time is now. I intend to keep playing until I can no longer do so. In the meantime I am sure my wife has plenty of plans for me!"