The personalisation of the Caird Cup in its “Centenary Year” added a remarkable link to the history of the Trophy.
Usually played for at Tandridge later in the year, it was played this year at the Berkshire “Summer Scramble” after the granddaughter of Sir Andrew Caird and Berkshire member, Jill Creswell, noted her grandfather’s name in “The Chief”, the recent book on the life and times of Lord Northcliffe.
As a Daily Mail Board member in the days of Lord Northcliffe, he had donated the Trophy in 1923 to the Society so Jill asked if she could attend the next prize-giving.
With such a family connection, Jill was not only invited to present the Trophy but to join in the competition with a Club team including the President of The Berkshire, Mark Cannon Brookes.
But despite their local knowledge, it was the “Chubb’s Champions” team, of Steve O’Meara, Richard Cross, Robert Hudson and Lauren Dick that won the trophy.
Their score of 56.4 was fractionally better than the “Kiss my Putt” team of Lord Rothermere, sons Alfred and Vere and Rupert Harmsworth who scored 56.6.
Very close in third with 56.9 was “Birdies Galore”, John Tucker, Barry Theobald, Lee Terry and Harry Grinrod.
There were “4 Nearest the Pin” winners, George Coslett on the 1st; Rupert Harmsworth 4th; Steve Huddleton 19th and Felix Duckworth on the 13th who all won bottles of champagne with all the prize table funded by Lord Rothermere.
The Society’s first “Summer Scramble”, the idea of Society President Lord Rothermere, had turned out to be an amazing success, both with numbers and the bonhomie amongst the members.
The Berkshire Blue Course was closed by the Club for the Scramble and was in tremendous condition for the 56 players that included 8 ladies, the highest ever turnout at a Northcliffe fixture.
Secretary Garth Burden thanked all teams for their donations to the raffle table and Lord Rothermere for suggesting the change from the usual singles competition to a “Summer Scramble” that had proved to be such a success.
Thanks went to John Tucker who was able to bring the Caird trophy out of storage while building work was taking place at the main office where the trophy would normally be on display and also to Lisa Heywood, Barry Theobald, Lee Terry, Rosie Gladstone and Jayne, his wife for helping with the organising of the day.
It was only when handing the Trophy over to Lord Rothermere and Jill for the presentation, that Garth noted two previous winners of the trophy.
First of the winners way back in 1992 was Vyvyan Harmsworth, Chairman of the Society who had read out the history of Sir Andrew Caird before the Trophy presentation, and then Garth saw that in 1991 he had also won the Trophy, making it a day full of surprises and nostalgia.
*As it had been in storage for a while, fortunately there was an expert on hand as Vyvyan’s army career had taught him all about giving buckles, boots and even the occasional Trophy a proper shine!
Pictures: David Crump
Website: Neil Fitter
