WERNETH WEDGE No. 79 Captain: David Whittingham February 2008

NEW CAPTAIN IN GUN HOLD-UP DRAMA.

Just a few days before he was due to be elected as the new Captain of the club, David Whittingham was in his Middleton office when a hooded raider burst in, pointed a handgun at his front-office assistant, Mrs Lorna Gillibrand, threw a bag over the glass security screen, and demanded: "Fill it up."

Though understandably deeply shocked, Mrs Gillibrand immediately pressed a hidden alarm button to summon the police. David, working in the rear office of his Middleton Financial Services headquarters in town centre Middleton - a Nationwide Building Society agency - immediately rushed to her aid, shouting to the gunman: "We have raised the alarm." Mercifully, the raider immediately fled empty handed. Police later arrested a man in his sixties.

After questioning he was released on bail and, at the time of writing, he had not been charged with any offence. Said David: "In a situation like this you don't have time to think - you just react immediately. But it was a terrifying experience for both of us." He added: "We have a very good full-colour CCTV system and the whole raid was clearly recorded. We have since fitted a new device on the front door which has to be activated from the inside."

David made no mention of the incident at the club's AGM when taking over from Paul Higgins as Captain for the next year. A fourteen-handicapper, he thanked his long-term friend Paul for choosing him as his Vice-Captain and said he would be very happy if he could have as successful a year of office.

He also paid tribute to his cousin, and fellow Manchester City fan, Fred Whittingham - "No, he's not my father"- who had introduced him to the club seventeen years ago and "had always been there for me over the years." He made it clear he was a great believer in pushing boundaries, adding: "Traditions form a great part of any club, but traditions must not hold us back from making improvements."

The two biggest challenges facing the club, he said, were safety on the course and the need to recruit new members - issues on which all current members could play their part. "We should not be hassled," he said. "At the moment, the lunatics are running the asylum. We can't throw people off the course but we can used reasoned argument."

He revealed that a new committee had been set up to tackle the problem of vandalism (see later item), and wished it every success. Like his predecessor, his charity for the year will be the Centenary Fund. Before presenting David with his Captain's jacket, the retiring Captain paid tribute to all the club's employees, and the council, and expressed the hope that the improvements carried out on the course and in the clubhouse over the past year would continue. "We have five healthy clubs in the area but it is accepted that we are the friendliest, with better attended socials and with all members - juniors, seniors, ladies and everyone else - mingling better than at the other clubs," he said. His best achievement over the year was getting back to single figures and his biggest disappointment was bringing the dreaded wooden spoon back to the club. And his biggest gripe: "Mobile phones on the course - they should be used for emergencies only," he said.

Paul said he was convinced David would be a fine Captain and announced that he had raised £2,600 for the Centenary Fund, helped greatly by his father, who organised a successful charity night."

The incoming Vice-Captain, David Whaley, said he was honoured to be chosen to become the Centenary Captain and appealed to all members to make it a success. "We can't just wait for 2009," he said. "There is an awful lot of planning to be done in the coming months." Work has now begun on the new raised terrace at the front of the clubhouse - the major Centenary project - and plans are in hand for a Centenary week, including a Po-Am tournament, from June 21-27.

PAT GRANT - HISTORY MAKER.

Mrs Pat Grant has achieved a major breakthrough by becoming the first lady member to be elected to the council in the club's 99-year history. A former Lady Captain, Pat (formerly Redman), is the widow of Jim Grant, who was a familiar figure on the course on his electric buggy in his later years of ill-health. Away from the club, she is the area secretary of Ladroke's , the well-known bookmakers. She was elected for one year.

Elected for three years were three former Captains, Shaun Rattigan, Peter Griffin, and Fred Whittingham, with John Suttie elected for two years. Secretary John Barlow retained his post following a challenge by former Captain John Yemm - the first time the office had been contested for 22 years.

WAR DECLARED ON VANDALS.

A new three-man committee has been set up to tackle the problem of vandalism and attacks on the course, Bill Waterhouse, Tommy Dwayre, and Adrian Brierley, will liaise with the police, council officials and councillors, local residents' associations, and community leaders, to work out the best strategy to be adopted. One aim is to get the public right of way over the second fairway diverted. Ideally, the club would like it to be closed but this is unlikely.

ANYONE SEEN A PANDA?

One of his last duties as Captain for Paul Higgins was to arrange a charity night in aid of the Centenary Fund. Joe Smith, a talented artist, offered to paint a picture to help raise funds and asked the Captain for ideas. Paul suggested a nice view of the course, but Joe said he had already painted several of this subject. So Paul suggested the flora and fauna of the course would be a nice subject. Perhaps the odd fox, squirrel, or rabbit might be appropriate. But he was a little surprised when Joe, who recently visited China, produced a delightful painting of - a panda. Joe had the last laugh however - the painting raised £200 on the night.

PRO. AND McKEE's ALLIANCE TRIUMPH.

Werneth professional James Matterson, partnered by 6-handicapper Paul McKee, won a Manchester and District Golf Alliance competition at Blackley against a big field. In frozen conditions they totted up 35pts in the greensome event, with James pocketing a handy £230. Paul, Vice-Captain of Fairfield as well as being one of our members, won a nice pair of shoes.

Partnered by Tim Joyce, Paul also won our winter league final, with a one-up victory over Aidie Buckley and Lawrence Dawson. Defeated semi-finalists was the pairing of James Buckley and Ian Gillies, and Peter (Bob) Barrington, who played alone because his partner, Duncan Hough, was injured. Bob consoled himself with the memory of amassing 46 Stableford points to win a pro's comp, defeating Tony Roddy by four points.

Denis Nield won a similar event with 40pts, one more than the 82-years-young Eric Smith. Rob McGarrick lost second place on a CPO. Out of luck was our Daily Mail knock-out team which lost by 3-2 at Houldsworth.

THAT DITCH - LATEST NEWS.

First it was going to be 30yds short of the 12th green, then the deep, two-metre wide ditch appeared right in front of the green, and now it has been filled in. It is understood it will eventually be a gently sloped, shallower, grassed hollow. Watch this space.

IN MEMORY OF FRED.

A copper beech tree, presented to the club by Betty Keating, has been planted alongside the fifth hole in memory of her late husband, Fred

REMINDER:

Entry forms for our Seniors' Open on May 14 are now available in the club and in the PRO'S shop. Tell your friends