It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our Chairperson, Norma Vokes, after a brave battle with cancer.
Norma has been part of the club since the early 1990’s and she first came to the club in her role as providing catering to those who visited Crewe Park. She quickly became embedded in club and was a great champion and advocate of the cross community work and programmes that we initiated and also the development of the facilities we now have at Crewe Park.
She was part of the Steering Group that was established to oversee the transformation of the club in 1998 which saw the construction of the current clubhouse. She was a major driving force of that Group and one of the main reasons that the grant funding and cross community support was provided to see the project through to completion.
Without doubt though her biggest achievement, and proudest venture, was her role in the Torch of Hope Project that was formed when Crewe were the first group to visit Warrington after the tragic bombing there in 1993. Norma was instrumental in taking the Torch of Hope to Warrington, London, Dublin and America. It was a pioneering project for a pioneering woman.
The greatest strength that she had was her single minded determination to achieve her own goals, and those of the club. Never shy in sharing her own mind and a strong compass in doing the right thing. Norma was definitely a very special lady.
A native of Lisburn, Norma grew up in Old Warren and helped her mother and father in their family butchers shop on Warren Gardens. She moved to Knockmore Park in Lisburn and more recently the shores of Groomsport provided her home, and even then she still made her pilgrimage to Crewe Park on a regular basis.
We will certainly miss the steadying influence and guiding hand of someone who was red and white, through and through.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Norma at this sad time. All senior games have been cancelled this weekend as a mark of respect.
Rest in Peace Norma. Forever in your debt.
From all your friends, past and present, at Crewe Park.
