Diljit (Dil) Singh Bahra

I was born in Maji Mazuri, Kenya in January 1950. We moved to Nakuru, Kenya in 1955. My schooling was in Nakuru, firstly at Lake Primary School from 1955 to 1958 and then at the newly built Nakuru West Primary School from 1959 to 1962. I studied at Menengai High School in Nakuru from 1963 to 1966. I played cricket and hockey for the school team at Nakuru West Primary School. I played badminton, cricket and hockey at Menengai High School.

I also played for Nakuru Rangers, a club run by Harvinder Singh Marwa, who was a Kenyan Hockey International at the time and went on to represent Kenya at Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972 Olympic Games.

I migrated to the UK in May 1967 and joined the British Army in October 1968. I played hockey for the 5^th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers and 26 Engineering Regiment in Paderborn and Iserlohn in Germany. I was also in the Regimental Cross Country running team.

I was posted to Cyprus in July 1972 and played hockey and for 62 (NE) Support Squadron in Dhekelia, Cyprus. I also represented the Dhekelia Garrison and the Army team. I played for Akrotiri Exiles whilst I was posted on the Moles project in Akrotiri, Cyprus. I also played cricket and was a member of the squadron's long distance running team. I was a member of the winning Dhakelia dash team in 1974 and in the same year successfully completed the two-day Cyprus walk.

I obtained the Army Hockey Umpires Association Badge in 1974 whilst in Cyprus.

I was also attached to the 10^th Princess Mary's own Gurkha Rifles during the Greek/Turkish conflict in Dhekelia, Cyprus in 1974 where I had the opportunity of playing and umpiring for the Gurkha Rifles.

Upon leaving the Armed services in February 1975, I joined the Metropolitan Police Force London in April 1975. During my 32 years police service, I was involved in police hockey as a player, coach, team manager, umpire, liaison officer and an administrator. I was awarded my Metropolitan Police Athletic Association (MPAA) Colours in September 1992.

I formed the British Police Hockey Team in 1981 and was the Team coach / manager for a period of 15 years. I qualified as The Hockey Association Level 2 coach in 1981. I was elected as an Associate member of The Hockey Association in 1981. I was appointed as an umpire by Surrey Hockey Umpires Association in 1984 and was also a member of Kent Hockey Umpires Association.

I have been involved in hockey at National, European and International level. I was on the organising committee for the World Cup in London in 1986.

I have been a technical officer for the English Hockey Association and European Hockey Federation and was the Media Officer for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the Junior World Cup in 1997 in Milton Keynes, England, Women's Olympic Qualifier in 2000 in Milton Keynes, England, Men's Champions Trophy in 2002 in Koln, Germany and the Women's Champions Challenge in 2003 in Catania, Sicily, Italy.

I was awarded The Hockey Association National Award of Merit "For outstanding service to the game at National level" in March 1995.

I have been a member of the Hockey Writers' Club, an international body, since 1981 and was the Hon. Secretary of the Club from 2001 to 2012. I am a Vice President of the Club.

In April 2006 I was invited to be on the Judging panel in New Delhi to select the top 10 "Sardars of Hockey". Balbir Singh Senior, India's the triple Gold Medallist, was judged as the Number 1 player of all time.

I was the Media Overseers co-ordinator for the AIPS Hockey commission and The International Hockey Federation from 2007 to 2010 and the Media Overseer at the Delhi 2010 World Cup. I was a member of England Hockey Archive Steering Group from 2007 until 2011 when The Hockey Museum was formed. I was one of the founding members of The Hockey Museum, a founder Trustee from 2012 until stepping down in December 2018. I was invited to become a Life Member of The Hockey Museum in January 2019.

I was a member of the OPNS Flash Quote Reporters team and a volunteer at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

I have travelled to India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, USA, Chile, Argentina and several European countries covering hockey in some capacity, including Olympic, World Cup and Commonwealth Games. I have built up a strong global network of hockey contacts.

I was honoured with Hon. Life Membership of Sikh Union Club Nairobi, one of East Africa's leading Clubs, in February 2020.

I currently run two hockey related websites, Sikhs in Hockey and Hockey on Stamps.