 It all started with a letter a few months ago from Stephanie to GB International player Susie Gilbert. Finally the day had come. Susie arrived at Tillingbourne School, gave an inspiring speech to the year 6 pupils and answered (many!) questions....
As she left the school, Susie presented Stephanie with a shirt signed by the whole GB squad.
With 40 mins to kill before heading to Guildford HC, we treated Susie to an orange and lemonade at Beefeater in Godalming. The glamour of being an international hockey player!
At GHC, Susie talked the girls through her glittering career and let them pass round her gold medal from the 2015 European Championships and her silver from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The girls were surprised how thick and heavy the medals were.
We moved down to the pitch and Susie helped us out with the training session, giving some useful tips, the girls hanging on every word. If only they were as quiet as this for me every week.....!
The GHC coaches were also keen to learn from Susie's experience....
On the shooting exercise, Susie showed us how it was done, smashing a few shots into the top corner, off the open side.....
and, even more impressively, the reverse.....
We had one final surprise in store for Susie. As always, we finished the session with a game, and asked Susie to take part, helping out the green team at the back...
and going in to tackle a charging Cecilia in the orange team.....
After thanks and a round of applause, Susie kindly signed a wide range of objects, sticks...
....hockey balls.....autograph books...cuddly toys....you get the picture!
A few girls asked for a little photo at the end....the Relphs.....
....and the Smiths.....
Truly a day to remember. Thanks Susie from all at Tillingbourne School and Guildford HC! | 
