Company Golf Day at Tandridge Golf Club
The annual Company golf day was once again held at the very beautiful and pretty Surrey course of Tandridge, in the rolling hills near Oxted. It was a chilly start, but remained dry and warmed beautifully as the day went on.
Past Master Derek Harris, a long time member of Tandridge, yet again laid on a splendid event. How grateful we are to Derek and all he does to ensure we have the best possible time. He even paid a visit to all of us during play on a buggy with his lovely little golf-trained dog!
We were all given some very useful golfing ammunition – including a lovely score-card sleeve with the Company’ s logo attached – such a lovely touch from Derek.
There were 10 Company Liverymen and Freemen and seven guests participating and flogging it out for one of the several( BAT sponsored) magnificent hampers – filled with a range of wines and bubbly! Grateful thanks must go to BAT for their continued sponsorship of the prizes.
The Master and Mistress kindly joined us golfers for drinks, lunch and prize giving – following their busy weekend in Ironbridge.
The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our Principal Guest, Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and very humorous reply to which I responded initially by drenching poor Tim in a glass of water- he was very kind about it( sorry Tim!). I was very pleased to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms and Letters Patent which have been missing for many years- our Clerk tenaciously sought them out, and the new Immediate Past Master, Chris Allen, and his IPM, Mark Gower-Smith have funded a beautiful representation and they are now resplendent in frames carved with tobacco leaves( or close to); Sandra also located a huge banner not seen since 1985 and Angus Menzies, Clerk to the Master Mariners and never shy of a challenge saw to it that it was displayed on the Quarterdeck Most of us took
. on the par 3 challenge for some
Whilst vouchers all from this was the going pro-shop on, and apparently that meant biblicalstyle browsing downpours there after were play being – what had a all well-stocked over London shop
some
- it oblivious is! to all that drama we ended our lunch and Compliments trooped back must to go the to quarterdeck the management where and Coffee green, Cigars staff for, and presenting Cognac a awaited very well us conditioned( I did mention golf that
course Livery. Moreover enjoyed Tandridge dining on lived the High up to C its’ s..) reputation and which of providing seemed us to with hit the a superb mark spread – Liveryman of foods Jemma for Freeman lunch from had its kindly quality provided kitchen … the and torpedo most of cigars us and indulged had had in a them spoon placed( or 3) in of souvenir its signature tubes‘ Tandridge with our’ Crest pudding emblazoned! on it. Several of us also sported a limited edition Livery Smoking hat- originally Past Master Derek introduced the start to prize conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its giving by getting somewhat carried away with recent purpose so well as a“ team” hat, that of the twenty political events … and The Master presented the ordered, but one remained by the close of the day! prizes and the magnificent Charles Rich Cup.
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the use Very of special the venue thanks, to Tim to Derek for being for his a perfect devoted Principal Guest organisation, and for of everyone the day. He attending no doubt and had giving much my year assistance such a and special support start from. his lovely wife Sheila, and our thanks to her too.
Next year’ s event is scheduled to take place at the same venue on Monday 11th June 2018. The Master
Assistant Paul Taberer
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