Tomkinson Trophy, Ladies Major,

We have a new Ladies Major at Branston Golf Club this year, this is a Ladies pairs, 4bbb, which will take place on Saturday 23rd June. The trophy has been donated by one of our Club Charities for this year, The British Heart Foundation and I chose this charity for personal reasons and because of the local significance that the British Heart Foundation has for Burton on Trent. 

The trophy for our new Ladies Major has recently been named The Tomkinson Trophy after a very special young lady called Elisabeth Jayne Tomkinson 

Elisabeth or Lib as she is known was 18 in December and went to America for a holiday a few months ago with her college friends. She was queuing for some food at the Air & Space Museum in Washington when she passed out and complained of chest pains. The security guards immediately called for an ambulance and she was rushed to the George Washington Hospital where she had a chest T scan, chest x ray, ultra sound and then an EEG.

Following a total of 8 blood tests (which were clear), Lib has been diagnosed as having bicuspid aortic valve which is a condition where 2 of the 3 heart valves have joined together so 2 are doing the work of 3. Symptoms can be excessive sleeping and tiredness which Lib had experienced for a couple of months before her trip. It is likely that she was born with this condition and symptoms occur and develop around the late teens. She’s had further tests and blood tests since she’s been back in the UK which are clear and is now waiting see a cardiologist which may result in surgery later this year.
 

So who is Elisabeth Jayne Tomkinson?

Lib lives in Cardiff and has been successful in becoming an ambassador for the Olympics for events that are being held in Wales later this year. She will be responsible for some of the teams attending, making sure they arrive on time at events etc. She has played football for Cardiff City Ladies Juniors and has represented her Sixth Form at Hockey and plays hockey currently for Whitchurch Saints Hockey Club. She still suffers from tiredness and has lost weight recently and according to mum Debbie, doesn’t quite look her normal self

….by the way
Debbie is my sister
Elisabeth is my niece