Bill Carne spoke to Platinum Young Ambassador Jemma Phillips

When Jemma Phillips was chosen to be one of the five new Platinum Sports Ambassadors established by Ben Field and his doughty team at Sport Pembrokeshire she was absolutely delighted because as a genuine sports lover herself she is really looking forward to the chance of encouraging others to enjoy a whole range of sporting and leisure activities to stimulate as many young people as possible in the quest to increase fitness levels in our society.

It is an entirely voluntary role for Jemma, who is in her final year of a Sports Management degree course at Swansea University, and follows on from the hugely successful bronze, silver and gold schemes which are in operation in our schools; the first ambassadors in junior schools and the others in senior schools and college.

She became involved after spotting an advertisement on social media asking for interested people who had left school to apply, which Jemma did with the typical enthusiasm she has always shown in her own specialist sports of cricket and hockey.

"I had to explain my reasons for applying, including my qualifications as a Level One coach in both cricket (at Haverfordwest CC) and as a Multi Sports leader where I have worked with youngsters at Pembrokeshire College, plus coaching the hockey team at Swansea University, where I was captain in my first year.

"I also had to write a personal statement, which included telling them about two summers spent in France with water sports, and eventually I was invited to attend an interview with Matthew Freeman, who runs the scheme for Sport Pembrokeshire on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council, and Rominy Colville at the archives office in Haverfordwest.

"Part of the interview was using a power point presentation, which was a bit nerve-wracking for me but I must have done OK because four days later Matthew phoned me with the good news that I was part of the Platinum Ambassador scheme!

"We then met up as a group in county hall where I met my fellow Platinum Ambassadors in Ryan Foot, Katie Bowie-Hallam, Chloe McAdam and Liam Manwaring, and the day afterwards we all had jobs to do at the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards evening.

"My job there with Angela Miles was to greet sponsors and other invited guests before taking them to where they needed to be and the atmosphere was electric, with a huge number in attendance and an amazing number of nominations from so many different sports, and the same feeling afterwards when everyone mingled for soup or hot dog and chips: I'm already looking forward to next year!"

That Jemma should love her sporting involvement comes as no surprise because she hails from a very sporting family where her father Andrew and Uncle Steve were both key players at Haverfordwest Cricket Club for many years and her auntie Jayne has scored for The Town at a record number of Harrison-Allen Bowl finals.

Her sisters Hayley and Lucy have played for Hook Ladies in cricket whilst her mum Diane played sport in her younger days and alongside grandparents Jean and Hugh have provided quite wonderful support in all that she has done.

But one of her major family inspirational figures is undoubtedly her niece Libi, who has won awards for her role in wheelchair basketball and especially rugby, where she has captained the Ospreys, playing alongside others four or five years older, been on the club's main committee representing disabled players and given talks to organisations with the positive approach that also saw her organise her 'Heels 4 Wheels' charity walk to raise funds to buy a special wheelchair for others to try the rugby.

With her family involvement in sport it is small wonder then that Jemma should acquire a love for cricket as she went up to watch dad on The Racecourse and enjoyed hitting the ball with the young boys there.

On the Ladies' Cricket front Jemma has played for Hook Ladies for nine years and has been ever ready to bat or bowl where needed, and to really enjoy her involvement in the field.

"It has been great to be involved with my sisters and some fantastic players like Sam Rossiter, Jo Kerrison and Kath Huxley as we have played in seven out of the last nine finals against our main rivals Burton and Neyland - although I missed last season's big day because I was out enjoying my water sports  in France.

She has been involved in hockey since her time at Sir Thomas Picton School, where she was coached by Heather Whale as part of a strong team which twice won the Pembrokeshire tournament before she played for Pembrokeshire College alongside school friends Meg Evans and Emily Rees as they were coached by Angharad Jenkins, and also enjoyed netball and football there.

At Swansea University she not only gained selection for the first team but was appointed captain - and because there was no coach available Jemma also took up that role.

And the latest string to Jemma's sporting bow came two summers ago when she helped out in water sports camps in Mimizan, which is two hours south of Bordeaux and is a busy town akin to Tenby.

"I had to learn to take children from 11-18 out coasteering, orienteering, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, raft building and stand-up paddle boarding; and it was very much a case of learning as I went along.  

"We also spent a lot of time with disabled participants and those from inner cities who had never tried anything on water and couldn't even ride a bike - and I made lots of friends with coaches and those taking part.

"I wouldn't mind going back for a third successive summer but in the meanwhile I'm going to be heavily involved as a platinum ambassador; hopefully in water sports but also with hand-ball; something which isn't currently available in our county."

It is easy to see the genuine enthusiasm which Jemma Phillips shows for her new sporting venture and Pembrokeshire is very lucky to have volunteers as eager as she is - and we with this pleasant and modest young lady every success in her new venture!