Thomas was awarded the Jack Petchey Achievement Award in recognition of the huge commitment he has made to Beckenham, in both a DofE volunteering and a coaching capacity.

Thomas used the grant from his award to hire the pool and host the Beckenham Festival as an opportunity for younger players from Beckenham and other local clubs to meet other players and participate in a series of fun matches.

The festival also provided an opportunity for the older Beckenham players to learn refereeing and table skills from highly-experienced coaches, and to put these new skills into action on the day.

The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up by Sir Jack Petchey CBE to inspire and celebrate young people. Since 1999, over £180 million has been invested in programmes to benefit young people aged 11-25 across London and Essex.