Golfers Raise £2,500 in the Sunshine for The Chiltern Centre
60 players enjoyed a sun-filled afternoon of golf followed by a BBQ and prize giving at Badgemore Park Golf Club on Thursday evening in aid of The Chiltern Centre raising a staggering £2,500.
Players got the chance to bid on some excellent silent auction lots of a meal at Hurley House, a self drive hire on Hobbs of Henley Olympic launch and Henley Festival tickets. Plus there was a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses including La Medusa Hair Studio, Laurence Menswear, Gorvett & Stone, Aston Goulding of Castle Royle, Giggling Squid, Leander Club, Hennerton Golf Club, Henley Golf Club, Temple Golf Club, Badgemore Golf Club and Waitrose community matters.
The golf was keenly contested with the winners and runners up:
Men’s Team Winners: John Tugwell, Clive Jackson, Neil Palmer and Peter Turner
Ladies Team Winners: Melodie Kelsey, Tracey Ellis, Annette Bacon and Sharon Chamberlain
Mixed Team Winners: David Haddock, John Grace, Bill Campbell, Kim Hawkins
Runners Up: Brian Connolly, Max Fuller, Joe Fuller and Chris Fuller.
Nearest the pin/longest drive winners were: Sheila Evans, John Williams, Guy van Zwanenberg, Annette Bacon, Sharon Chamberlain, Ryan Mays, Jean Head, David Haddock, Barbara Naylor, Paul Roberts, Tracey Ellis and Brian Connolly
Dave Haddock a Chiltern Centre Trustee and player said, “I had a very select team which included the current Badgemore Ladies’ and Men’s captains. We have had a fair to average round. There were no particular sparkling holes just all very consistent. The weather always helps. This is how golf should be played, walking around in the sunshine in a pair of shorts and a polo shirt. The Chiltern Centre is a very caring respite provider. There’s very few places that provide the kind of care that we provide to young adults. We have got a waiting list at the moment who want to use us but because of the space we have and current circumstances we can have less young people. It’s been a struggle for us. We closed for the first lockdown but ever since then we have managed to stay open but we have been restricted on the number people we can have at any one time. The people we look after, don’t understand social distancing but we have managed. The Centre is like a second home to them. The parents of the people we look after they love it as they know that their loved one is going to be looked after in a homely environment with staff that really care. Incredibly important for the parents to respite. I can’t imagine what it is like for them. When I first chose the charity for my Captain’s charity of the year, I wanted something local and that would make a real difference.”
Chair of Chiltern Centre Trustees, Paul Barrett said, “It’s been a fantastic turnout. I think I have to admire Badgemore for being first in and first out after the annus horribilis year. We had our only 2020 fundraising event here last year in October when people turned out for us and the weather wasn’t great. This is the first live event in 2021. People are so relieved to get back to a degree of normality and to help support the charity. People though have been supporting us through the lockdown through our friends’ scheme which has been fantastic. I’m sure people will be generous today as people have got money that they haven’t been able to spend on holidays etc. We’re also helping the hospitality industry today by hosting the event here.”
Emma Lerche-Thomsen, Chiltern Centre Fundraiser added, “I’d like to thank our volunteers Rose Connolly and Annie Abbey Quinn for their time and support and to my fundraising colleague Harriet Barcella and to Paul Barrett and David Haddock for supporting the event and to Marc Goodwin Business Director at Badgemore Park for facilitating the event. Plus Sheila Thorne of Totally Scrumptious Food for the delicious chocolate brownies Gemma of Atticus and Hope for the beautiful balloons.”
If you ‘d like to become a Friend of the Chiltern Centre for as little as £5 a month please contact the Chiltern Centre on Chiltern@chilterncentre.org.uk