BEST OC GOLF DAY YET!!!
This year's golf day at Temple GC was special for a number of reasons: - we had the best attendance in the society's eight year history - 21 OCs whose time at Clayesmore spanned five decades, from the 1940s to the 1980s. - we have been to Temple on seven previous OCGS visits and they still make us extremely welcome and look after us so well!! - we were delighted to receive a generous donation from the OC Committee which not only helped to reduce individual costs for OCs but also gave the OC Golf society 'official' recognition as one of the more successful annual OC activities.However, perhaps the element that made it most special, was the reunion of three OCs from the 1940s who played in this year's OCGS event, having not seen each other since the day they left Clayesmore 50 years ago. One of the triumvirate George Hodgson (1942 - 1946) wrote: "When I played in the OC Golf Society for the first time last year, I was the only member present from the 1940s and although everyone made me very welcome, I felt just a little ancient. Imagine my joy this year when two of my contemporaries, John Bentley (1944 -'48) and Tim Brodie (1942 -'47) were present. Tim, a medical practitioner had made his home in New Zealand many years ago and was on a visit to the UK when he learnt (thanks Nick Zelle!!) of the golf day. You can be sure that following an excellent lunch, the 18 holes of golf were a monumental trip down memory lane, a good deal of laughter interspersed with some golf as three good Old Boys looked back on our school days all those years ago. Clearly the occasion inspired John Bentley who returned the best individual stableford score and won the Iwerne Cup and Tim was so enjoying the company that he kept a relative, who came to collect him, waiting for well over an hour at the end of the day. Many thanks to John and Tim and who made this such a wonderful day".
Another very welcome newcomer to the OCGS was Trevor (HTB) Harrison who was runner up in the individual competition for the Iwerne Cup and attended with brother Robin (REB) Harrison.
Other prize winners were: - Morning winners; Piers Sabine with Mike Blundell Jones runner up.
Afternoon Fourball: John Bentley and George Hodgson - Perennial' Piers Sabine and Clive Smith - David Caddy and Richard Middleton - Ian Smith and Julian Bailey
The full list of attendees:
Roddy Symes (President), David Caddy, Richard Middleton, HTB and REB Harrison, J.N.Gwinn, James Linden, Paul Ockendon, David Spence, Piers Sabine, Ian and Clive Smith, Max Dowse, George Hodgson, Mike Blundell-Jones, Andrew Beaton, John Bentley, Tim Brodie, Julian Bailey and two non playing guests - Neil Pitcher and Malcolm Peake
Thanks again to the OC committee for helping in the success of this year's event and a call to all Old Clayesmorians - if you play golf (even only very occasionally) don't put it off again.............write to me and join us for 1999 OC Golf Day and after it, maybe you will inspired to write a letter like George Hodgson!! The date of the next event is June 25th 1999.
Julian Bailey, Wilbury Lodge, Dry Arch Road, Sunningdale, Berks SL5 0DB.