ROMILEY GOLF CLUB

NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 2014

Mrs Janet Worthington, Lady Captain 2014-16

Lady Captain 2014—2016

I am delighted and honoured to be the Lady Captain of Romiley Golf Club.

Since having a few golf lessons at school many years ago I had always wanted to play

golf, so, when Derek and my sons, Simon and Andrew, joined Romiley Golf Club, I

started having lessons in a ladies’ group at Adlington. I had attended many social events

at RGC with Derek and found the members to be very friendly so I decided that I would

love to join Romiley.

I have had a wonderful time whilst a member at Romiley and I relish the challenge of

being Lady Captain. I am delighted that Irene Barrow has agreed to be my Vice

Captain and I am sure that we will work well together.

At the Ladies’ AGM earlier this month it was agreed that the ladies’ year end would be

brought into line with the Club year so both Captains in the future will take up their

office in March. I am really looking forward to working with both Andrew Reed and

Neil Brindley in my extended term.

I hope you all have a great Christmas and my very best wishes for the New Year.

Janet Worthington

Lady Captain

Lady Captain Janet Worthington receiving a

beautiful bouquet from Mr Captain at the Ladies’ AGM

Ladies’ Annual Prize Presentation

Past Lady Captain Anne Harrison

winner of the EWGA Medal

Denise Booth, winner of the Best Gross Trophy

and badge, Eclectic Division 1, Birdie Tree 1st

Division and runner up in the Doubles Knockout

with Debs Kershaw

Alison Reed, winner of the Star

Trophy, best gross for handicap 30-36

Janet Godfrey and Francine Walburn, joint

winners of the 2nd Division Birdie Tree,

3 each

Francine also won the Eclectic in Division 2

Pam Cunnington, winner of the

Stableford Cup

Lady Vice Captain, Irene Barrow, being

presented with her winnings, a beautiful

bouquet, by Mr Vice Captain, Neil Brindley.

Barbara Leith, winner of the Best Reduction

Trophy 22.8 > 20.1

Helpers’ Evening, Monday, 3rd November, 2014

Every club depends upon volunteers and Romiley Golf Club is no exception. To

make sure their value is understood. over 50 people who had helped at any of

the Opens, the Romiley Young Farmers’ Show or The Brash Street Lads were

invited to enjoy some lovely cheese, bread, pate and drinks. Mike Bury paid

tribute to them all on behalf of the Club and our Chairman.

What a delightful evening!

Brash Lads

Mike Wilson Eric Jones Mike Hanson Alan Whitehead

Mr. Captain, Lady Captain, Mr. Chairman

Francine Walburn, editor, Irene Barrow

Murray Padkin Mike Cope

Alan Costello Duncan Challen

Barbara Leith Alison Reed Ros Hale Just a few of the helpers.

14 hole Stableford 2nd and 6th November 2014

Division 1

1st Janet Godfrey, 26 2nd Jill Woolstencroft, 25 3rd Barbara Leith, 23

Division 2

1st Debs Kershaw, 26 2nd Beryl Reade, 23 3rd Val MacKinnon, 22

Quiz Night , 7th November, 2014

The quiz kicked off at about 8pm and by the close at 10.15 several of the teams were feeling

the worse for wear with severe brain strain. Nine rounds of University Challenge standard

questions had taken their toll. Science, literature, wordplay and fashion were just some of

the subjects for which a masters degree would have come in handy!

Even so the winners and runners-up achieved fantastic scores.

In second place were Tony and Annie Healey with Tony and Margaret Todd, who are all

neighbours and friends of Audrey and David Jones, with a total of 95 points.

The worthy winners were Judith and Peter Howcroft with Audrey and David Jones who

scored an amazing 100 points out of 130.

Seriously though, as quizmaster I felt I had asked a bit too much of the participants and

promise that my next quiz on 5th December will be a fun quiz which will be a really light-

hearted event that hopefully everyone will enjoy, though I will include a few catchy ones too !

Chris Broster

The winners: Peter and Judith Howcroft with

David and Audrey Jones

In second place: Margaret and Tony Todd

with Tony and Annie Healey

4 BBB Stableford, Saturday, 8th November, 2014

1st Paul Wagstaff & Garry Hall 39

2nd John Wallworth & Phil Ankers 38

3rd Charles Haworth & Phil Roberts 37

Turkey Trot, 14 hole Stableford, 9th and 13th November 2014

1st Division

Division 2

Good scores in tornado-like conditions.

Don’t think the two winners will need to fight over who’s having the leg and who’s having

the breast—there’s bound to be one each!

Winner: Teresa Hogg,

27 points

2nd: Rebecca Byle,

26 points

3rd Pauline Walker,

24 points

3rd Alison Reed,

19 points

2nd Lynn Nuttall,

21 points

1st Debs Kershaw,

21 points

LOTTERY

RESULT OF DRAW HELD ON

SATURDAY, 15th NOVEMBER 2014

Drawn out by FINANCE DIRECTOR SIMON HEBDEN

1st Prize: Amanda Martin-McRoberts £73.13

2nd Prize: Sandra McRoberts £43.88

3rd Prize: Shirley Fletcher £29.25

NEXT DRAW:

BUMPER CHRISTMAS DRAW

Saturday 20th DECEMBER 2014 at 4 pm

Vets’ Black Tie Dinner

Friday, 14th November, 2014

This year’s annual black-tie dinner

for the club’s seniors was well-

attended, with over fifty members and

partners enjoying a 3 course meal.

The evening concluded with a brief

speech from chairman, Peter

Howcroft.

The organiser of the event, Mike

Wilson, was unable to attend because

of a prior commitment but thanks

were offered to him for his efficient

work in preparing the menu and

seating plan.

Club Captain, Andrew Reed &

Alison

Lively conversation at a table of

notable vets ….

Chairman of the VETS, Peter Howcroft, with

his lovely wife Judi.

Texas Scramble, Saturday, 15th November, 2014

1st Phil Hart & Doug Mills & Danny Pearson & Graham Nuttall 42.3

2nd John Allman Gary Williams Paul Mellor Joe Smith 42.8

3rd Jim Millington Tony Fitzpatrick Steve Kidd Carl Pannett 43

Ladies 3 ball team event 20th November 2014

Winners: Pam Cunnington, Hilary Craven and Audrey Jones, 54 points

2nd: Barbara Leith, Alison Reed and Angela Slate

3rd Ann Jackson Pam Santopaolo Janet McRoberts 48

Pairs Stableford, Saturday, 22nd November, 2014

1st John Allman & Paul Mellor 33

2nd Kevin Jones & Paul Wagstaff 33 3rd Gary Drabble & Phil Roberts 32

Romiley Foursomes, Saturday, 29th November, 2014

1st Gary Evans & David Bailey 33

2nd Doug Mills & Danny Pearson 32 3rd Rod Highton & Simon Hebden 31

23rd and 27th November

Ladies 14 hole Waltz Stableford

1st: Rebecca Byle Lynn Schofield Angela Wheeler 59

2nd: Anne Ludford Lynn Spence Teresa Hogg 57

3rd: Pauline Walker Debs Kershaw Lynn Nuttall

Doreen Lavinia Leutton

Sadly, the funeral took place on 28th November 2014 of Doreen Leutton who passed away

after a long illness.

Doreen was born in Newton Heath in 1930 but attended school in Romiley where she met her

husband to be, Fred Leutton, and her sister, Marjorie, met and married our very own

Maurice Hall. Maurice paid tribute to Doreen and told stories of her following himself and

Marjorie around when they were courting and not wanting to lose her beloved sister to a

man.

She was a cordon bleu trained chef and taught at Oldham College. She also loved flower

arranging and regularly created floral arrangements at the Club for special functions. She

also enjoyed philosophy and attended night school on the subject for many years .

Doreen joined Romiley Golf Club in 1968, her husband Fred and Marjorie and Maurice Hall

already being members. She was an enthusiastic golfer, playing in Club competitions as well

as going on golfing weekends away. On one away weekend with Maureen Marsden, Sheila

Wright and Marjorie they won the Lancaster Ladies Open.

Doreen leaves three children, John, Kate and Suzie, and several grandchildren, three of

whom read poems tat the funeral.

President's Ponderings

When I started this column some months ago, I told you a bit about myself and, last month,

hinted that the Winter months see me occupied other than on the Golf Course. I would like

to expand the basis of an article included in this Journal last year. You see, I spend a lot of

time at my computer working on my Family Tree which currently has no less than 9200

names on it – I hesitate to consider the cost of publishing this monstrous document, assuming

that anyone would even be interested!. In the main, I go back to around 1800 and I have to

admit that most of these people are VERY remote relations.

To drop a few names, and in no order, there is Denis Finch Hatton whom you may know as

portrayed on the Big Screen by Robert Redford in ‘Out of Africa’. Twin brothers from

Liverpool called Chavasse competed in the 1908 Olympics but of these Noel, a Doctor of

Medicine, achieved fame as one of only three people to win two Victoria Crosses, in WW1

where he lost his life. There is also a young girl called Janet Wells who is one of my most

fascinating entries. Before she was aged 20, she had travelled, mainly on her own, to nurse in

the Balkans during the Russo-Turkish War in 1879 and had hardly returned home when her

expertise caused her to be sent out to South Africa to provide assistance in the Anglo-Zulu

Wars, where amongst other feats she attended to the wounded after the Battle of Rorke’s

Drift. A founder member of what is now The Red Cross, her Nursing awards were only

exceeded by Florence Nightingale. A grandson of the one-time owner of Marple Mill, Sir

Derek Hodgkinson , who had attended my school some 20 years before me, became Air Chief

Marshal, RAF, in the mid 70’s and was succeeded in that post by another ‘member’ of my

family, Sir Neville Stack.

As this article has a history theme, it reminds me that Romiley Golf Club is nearly 120 years

old and as far as I am aware there is not a club historian to carry on the great work of our

Centenary Book. It is important that we do not forget what significant incidents may have

occurred in the more recent past so I wonder if there is a member with a flair for this kind of

thing who may be interested/able to assist. I know

there are some senior members with knowledge

that could/should be recorded as I was made

aware recently – attending a formal function here

I was asked by a guest why the Rhodesian

Trophy was so named as she had been born

there. Although the Cup is duly recorded in the

Centenary Book there was no answer to that

question. Fortunately I was able to ask a past

officer, also present at the dinner so I could

impress her with a speedy response. The

information was not actually on record until now.

Our monthly newsletters provide a very detailed

source for nearly the last five years. What else is

there that should be recorded? Only those with

the knowledge can tell, so we need to ask our

membership. Will you be our club historian?

David Mason, President 2014

Dear Member

Welcome to the November edition of Captains Corner

Mr Captain: First and foremost I would like to congratulate Janet Worthington on becoming the

new Lady Captain. Irene Barrow as Vice Captain is also a welcome addition to Team

Ladies. We have a busy time in the run up to Christmas so I look forward to working

with them both and enjoying our partnership. Further congratulations to Peter

Wagstaff on becoming Mr President elect and Gary Williams becoming Mr Vice

Captain elect.

Golf We have a lot to look forward to with the onset of Christmas . Yes! It is rushing

towards us. Look on the boards for:

Christmas Draw competition and brunch – Sunday 14th December

Boxing Day competition – Friday 26th December

The Top Dog is in full swing and becoming very competitive. I enjoyed an excellent

round with my Pro partner, Alex, last Sunday (23rd November) against a formidable

pairing of the 2 Steve’s – Cleary & Sheils. Great banter and the golf was good as

well. Thanks, boys.

We will be on mats when you receive this message so enjoy the course and if you

see a divot lying around then feel sorry for it and peg it back in place – a treat for

divots at Christmas.

Whilst golf is localised you should think about your game and look at the offers that

Alex has in terms of coaching. I am hearing really positive feedback from his tips

and advice. I certainly feel an improved player from my partnerships with him this

year.

The Junior Section continues to flourish as you realise from seeing so many on the

course and battling in the competitions. We even have a junior member competing

on a Saturday, so well done to Mathew Murray.

Enjoy the course with your fellow members, friends and family over the festive

period.

Social

There are events during December which would like your support:

Children’s Party – Saturday 6th December (Notice Board main hall)

Christmas Cheer evening – Friday 12th December

Vets’ Christmas Lunch and AGM – Friday 19th December (list in gent’s locker

room)

New Year’s Eve – Wednesday 31st December (list and menu upstairs lounge)

The posters are up, or going up, so have a think about joining in with what I am sure

will be a fun time.

Course

I am still amazed at the course condition and with the advent of mats we will enjoy a

good winter playing period.

I would like to highlight the work being done by the Thursday ‘Brash Street Gang’ –

this week (24th Nov) has seen the chipper machine around the course and on the

fields alongside the 3rd and 4th getting rid of all the felled trees and branches. This is

programmed work to make the course easier to manage and look smart.

Tough work, so thanks to Eric Jones, Colin MacManus, Keith Selby, Mike Hanson,

Mike Wilson, Peter Milnes for your week's commitment. Mince pies and mulled

wine on the way.

Just a reminder about divot pegs – the early rush to use has eased off so please

think about the course and use them where appropriate.

Enjoy the course and more importantly yourselves.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE I would like to take this opportunity in wishing every member of our great Romiley

Golf Club a merry Christmas. This message extends to your family and friends.

This year has been special for me in many ways but what has shone through the

most is your warm friendship and banter.

Captain – Andy Reed

The support from every section of our

club; directors, administration,

catering, greens staff, professional

shop, committees and volunteers has

been exceptional.

A special mention to the boys and

girls past and present who look after

us at the club, behind the bar, at meals

and the halfway house – thank you for

your smiles and enjoy your busy

lives.

There are too many people to name

individually but as Team Romiley I

feel proud to represent you and wish

you all a happy New Year.

Editorial Team

Audrey Jones Chris Broster Phil Roberts John Glynn Martyn Wilson