THE EDGBASTON Foundation has paid tribute to the late tour guide Rick Coleman by naming him as the Community Hero for 2020.
Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s official charity has also decided to dedicate a stone in Bear & Ragged Staff Wall at Edgbaston Stadium to the 77-year-old, who passed away in June, and has named an award in his honour – namely the Rick Coleman Community Award for biggest community impact over the course of a year.
Coleman dedicated 20 years of his life to give schools, cricket clubs and community groups tours of Edgbaston cricket ground, while helping develop the Edgbaston Classroom – Edgbaston Foundation’s cricket-inspired education programme.
Head of Community Engagement at Warwickshire CCC and Lead of the Edgbaston Foundation, Ravi Masih spoke positively in memory of his former colleague.
“Rick gave so much time to Warwickshire CCC and in the development of the Edgbaston Foundation and it’s right that his fantastic efforts are never forgotten, through this initial Community Hero accolade and through the newly named Rick Coleman Community Award,” he said.
“Even whilst his health affected how often he could get to Edgbaston in the 12 months prior to his passing, Rick still wanted to play his part and earlier this year he supported the Edgbaston Foundation in a joint project with the National Literacy Trust called ‘Young Birmingham Poets’.
“Here he provided inspiration for the children to create poetry about cricket and Edgbaston Stadium.
“He is sorely missed by the many of us who were lucky enough to work with him over the last 20 years and we are very grateful that we can continue working closely with the Coleman family to honour Rick’s great community legacy.”
