I was both honoured and humbled to have been asked to be the Seniors Captain 2026, and as a result I have written this short biography to introduce myself to those of you whom I have yet to meet. Born in the summer of 1954, in Shepperton, Middx, I attended local junior schools and then a Grammar School in Feltham, Middx. My Grandmother originated from St Austell, so throughout my formative years, we holidayed regularly with relatives living in the east of the county. On leaving school, I worked locally until in 1970, when I bought my first motorbike, left home and moved to Falmouth and St Mawes. There I worked in hotels, restaurants and Wheal Jane.
I joined the Army in 1973, serving with the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch, in the UK, Northern Island, Germany, Canada, Kenya and France, to name but a few. My love of golf started when I picked up my first golf club whilst serving in NI in the 1970s. Amongst others, I played Royal Portrush and Royal County Down, though mainly whilst the courses were being cleared of suspected IEDs. At the RAF Gatow Golf Club, in Berlin, we regularly played in the snow, having tied coloured ribbon through holes drilled in to one piece ‘Commando’ golf balls, as this was the only way to play between November and March.
I have been a member of golf clubs in Germany, Canada, Aldershot, Salisbury, Tidworth Garrison, Hartley Wintney and Tylney Park, amongst others, before joining Tehidy in 2019, the best club in the county and the reason we moved to Portreath. Additionally, I have been a member of several golfing societies, and that has allowed me to play golf in places as far afield as Kenya, Florida, Calgary, Cyprus, France, Spain and Portugal.
Between leaving the Army in 1995, and retiring in 2018, following treatment for cancer, I worked in security, health & safety and golf club management. The latter as the facilities manager at Hartsbourne Golf and Country Club, Bushey, a 27-hole course with swimming pool, tennis courts and several properties including listed buildings and for 7 years as the Clubhouse Manager at Hartley Wintney GC, where my handicap was in single figures, but only because I was able to play or practicing daily!
I have been married to my beloved Wendy for over 30 years and we have 4 children. Antony, a Flintshire County Councillor. Jackie, a Wing Commander in the RAF. Max, a BA(Hons) graduate from Winchester University and Ruby-Rose, currently studying A level Maths, Physics and Chemistry, at CSMS, Camborne.
I believe that the experience I have gained over 45 years of playing golf, and my involvement in all aspects of club management, stands me in good stead to take our wonderful club forward into the future.
