Exceptional Service Honorary SSAGO Membership
Anthony Gathercole
Independent Members
Awarded Saturday 29th of April 2023
As he finally steps down from his position as SSAGO's first Events Officer, Ant's incredible commitment to SSAGO over many years was recognised through SSAGO's rarely bestowed Exceptional Service Award.
Having joined Wolves SSAGO all the way back in 2014, Ant survived the closing of his club and a move to Indie, and went on to dedicate himself to national SSAGO, and in particular the core of what makes SSAGO great – events. In 2020, SSAGO took the decision to create a new Team Pink Assistant to work with events and make them as good as they can be, and Ant was the first person to take on that challenge. He’s since worked with countless events, including supporting entirely online events during Covid, helping to navigate the first events post Covid, including some with exceptional twists (like Womball), and really getting SSAGO back into events.
As events moved back to in person, Ant was able to bring his skills and experience in catering to support rallies in the gargantuan task of providing good quality food to everyone, as well as bringing his wealth of experience of SSAGO to every event.
Now, as we come to the end of the first full year of SSAGO events since Covid caused so many cancellations, Ant has taken the decision to step down from his role and move on into SAGGA (where he’s already planning this year’s Alternative Rally). Ant’s impact in shaping the role set a foundation from which future events officers can build to ensure the best part of SSAGO is as good as it can be.
Despite being sent to hospital by a collapsing chair during the handover meeting, Ant was able to make it Lincoln’s MedieBall 2023 in time to learn that he had been awarded Honorary SSAGO Membership for Exceptional Service. The award was presented jointly by the outgoing Chair, Thomas Stevens, and his replacement, James Barber.