Passing of Zena Johnston

Zena was our much loved and respected Regional Officiating Lead, a position she had held for over 25 years. Her talent and passion for netball had her qualify as an A Award umpire and table official, which often saw her skills utilised at the highest levels of national and international netball. However, this did not stop her from investing decades of her time as a volunteer into developing grassroots officials in the West Midlands – seeing some of her top students go on to officiate internationally themselves – and earning her Honorary Life Membership of the West Midlands for her unparalleled contributions to regional officiating development as well as the regional board, as well as the England Netball Long Service Award for over 20 years dedication to our sport.

Zena was a familiar face at leagues across the West Midlands, particularly the Regional League where she could be found every week during the season giving her time to assess and oversee the officials on duty at our highest level of regional netball.

Everyone who knew Zena will agree that she was a vibrant, kind, and incredible woman who could never give enough to the sport she loved, and she will be sorely missed across the region and beyond.

Our thoughts go out to Zena’s family and friends at this difficult time.