Council member and golfing enthusiast Richard Alderson reminisces about past glories and looks forward with optimism to up coming Law Society events.
Don’t miss the opportunity to take part in the match against the Accountants at Oswestry on 17th September starting at 12 noon!
I joined the firm of what was then Underhill Willcock and Taylor in 1977 as an Articled Clerk and later qualified as a Solicitor. I learned to play golf during the earlier years of my articles and in those days there were many Society Golf Days, the most memorable being Halifax Building Society’s Day Out at Brocton.
For many years dating back to before I even learned to play Golf the Wolverhampton Law Society traditionally held a Solicitors Day Out at Oswestry Golf Club. Any member of the Society could apply to play and would often bring along a friend or business contact as his playing partner for the day. The format was 36 holes, 18 holes being played in the morning with a very quick turn round for lunch followed by 18 holes in the afternoon.
The event is traditionally in September and as a result on many occasions the members of the Society on higher handicaps (and therefore teeing off later) would often be seen playing the final holes in almost total darkness. I recall one occasion when I was the Captain of the Society presenting Harold Hilton and playing partners torches for use in the following years event!
Unfortunately as the years have passed with the demand on time becoming greater and older members retiring from the Golf Society and not being replaced by younger members coming through numbers have dwindled until Guy Birkett, the current Captain, changed the format last year from what had been a traditionally Wolverhampton Solicitors Golf Society’s annual meet to a new format. The format this year has been based on a Ryder Cup Style Match with the Wolverhampton Solicitors taking on the Wolverhampton Accountants in a golf challenge. We won last year and hope to retain the trophy which was kindly donated by Guy’s firm.
The match will be an 18 hole match meeting at Oswestry at lunchtime for soup and sandwiches with a meal in the evening. The cost for the day to include soup and sandwiches for 18 holes of golf a three course evening meal with coffee and a contribution towards the prizes is £47.00. If you wish to play in the event contact Guy Birkett’s secretary Kara Marshall by e-mail to let her know on k.marshall@fbcmb.co.uk and forward a cheque to fbc Manby Bowdler in favour of that firm in the sum of £47.00. Please provide details of your current handicap.
The Wolverhampton Law Society also enters a golf team in the Professions Day Out held at Enville each year. Each profession enters a team of six to fight for the Wolverhampton Law Society Rose Bowl which was presented to the Society in 1975. As I recall we hold the record for winning this event on the most occasions possibly in more relaxed times. The winners this year were the Accountants and the teams entering this year’s event were Estate Agents/Surveyors, GP Doctors, Consultant Surgeons, Dental Surgeons, Solicitors, Accountants and Architects.
Anyone wishing to be considered for the team should contact Guy on G.Birkett@fbcmb.co.uk
The Oswestry event is certainly an ideal way to meet members of the profession and is open to all members of the Wolverhampton Society and now provides a networking opportunity with the Accountants. For those who haven’t played at Oswestry it is certainly worth a visit hence the reason why, for as long as I can remember, we travel over there every year. Please join!
Richard Alderson
