On Sunday morning, 12th November, at a charitable Poppy Doubles competition run by Cobbetts Boules Club, the very sad and tragic news filtered through to those playing, that Paul Leverett had passed away following a heart attack the previous night.
On behalf of all the members of the Southern Counties, we send our deepest condolences to Hassi and family at this very difficult time.
Our tribute to Paul
Paul enjoyed a number of different hobbies. He was a guitarist in a band, he enjoyed restoring motorbikes, and had just recently got into sailing. Paul, unlike most mere mortals, had an interest in all things IT. He enjoyed learning about new computer software, how to develop websites and helping others with advice, when their computers broke down.
Paul and Hassi joined Fareham PC and started playing boules in 2014. Playing Petanque was a way for both Paul and Hassi to share a pastime together, playing a sport where they made many new friends within the Petanque community.
It wasn’t long after starting to play boules that Paul and Hassi became hooked and wanted to support the development of the sport within the Southern Counties. Paul became the Membership Secretary when Hassi became our Promotions officer for the region, and soon after Paul developed a new website for the Southern Counties. He expended much effort in setting up a way for the League Secretary to input the league results with the league tables updating automatically. Earlier this year, he had to rewrite the whole system in just a few days when incompatibilities with new versions of software caused the previous method to stop working.
He also developed the websites for Fareham and Cobbetts. When Covid broke out in 2020, it was Paul who helped to introduce the use of virtual Zoom meetings so that SR Executive and the clubs could continue to hold our meetings.
In 2020 Paul became a Supporting Officer “Online Platform Manager” for the PE National Executive, developing/updating the PE website as well as helping to introduce and develop the Sport 80 platform, as a new way for members to renew their licence membership. Only recently, Paul had played a vital part in setting up and implementing the new “Club Player” level of membership for new members.
Paul has always been there, often in the background offering his support to others. Providing his support to Hassi with the International Women’s Day and travelling around the country with her to the many competitions she played in. He has always been there for the regional events such as the End of Season Celebration Night, helping to set up the Pistes at Sunnyfields Farm, when we had the opportunity to play under cover, and there are many other examples.
Paul will be deeply missed by everyone in the Southern Counties region and the wider Pétanque England community.
Paul RIP
