The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 29 Summer 2018 | Page 29

Loriners Charity Golf Day
The Worshipful Company of Loriners Charity Golf
Day took place on Friday 6th July, at Sundridge Park
Golf Club in Bromley, Kent. The weather: not a cloud
in the sky with temperatures in the 26 - 29 celsius
region - wonderful!
The Tobacco Pipe Makers and Blenders were
represented by Past Master Ian Panto, Liveryman
Archie Smith and Fourth Warden Paul Taberer
(and one Loriner Ben Flight) and were one of 18
teams participating on the day on the West course
at Sundridge Park. The West offers fantastic views
over the City of London and always challenges a
golfer’s skills in every department, with tight drives,
challenging iron shots and undulating greens.
It was in the Summer of 1901 when about a dozen far
seeing Bromley men conceived the idea of a Golf Club
for their town, and on September 14th, 1901, they
Issued a printed circular letter headed “Proposed Golf
Club” near ‘Sundridge Park, Bromley, Kent”, giving the
name of a Provisional Committee.
With only the offer of a lease from Sir
Samuel Scott for approximately 125
acre of land, the Committee invited
those circulated to find the sum of
£4,500 by taking debentures of £100,
each at 4% interest and membership
of the Club. Within 21 days from the
issue date, a Committee Meeting was
held and on October 12th, 1901 that
meeting declared that Sundridge Park
Golf Club be and is hereby formed.
The first meeting of the Club was held
on December 4th, 1901 at the Bell
Hotel, Bromley. On December 7th,
1901, Mr Jack Randall was appointed
Club Professional prior to opening
and Willie Park was engaged and paid
a small fee to set-out the new course,
and subsequently the construction
proceeded under the expert supervision
of James Braid and Jack Randall.
Jack Randall added the title of Green
Keeper to that of Professional and then
together with brother Bob (Caddy
Master) commenced a fine working
relationship for the club.
The competition
was best two
to count
stableford
- and
lunch was deliciously
catered
by Mark
Grove
was
won
by
a
team
from
The
Loriners,
second
were
and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked The
Paviors
third The
International
along at and
a goodly
pace.
Our guests Bankers.
were admirably
introduced
by
Liveryman
Fran
Morrison
and
our
Sadly, we did not fare too well despite having
a glorious
Principal
Guest, Tim
Wonnacott
a generous and
(and
exhausting)
afternoon
on the gave
golf course.
very humorous reply to which I responded initially
Following
the poor
round, Tim
dinner
in conjunction
by drenching
in a was
glass served
of water
- he was
with
the
raffle
(proceeds
of
which
went
to
Riding
for
very kind about it (sorry Tim!). I was very pleased
the
Disabled)
and
prize-giving.
to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms
and
Letters
Patent and
which
have been
missing for golf
many
A
lovely
afternoon
evening
on a challenging
years
-
our
Clerk
tenaciously
sought
them
out,
and
course in near perfect conditions!
the new Immediate Past Master, Chris Allen, and his
Thank
you to Gower-Smith
The Loriners have
for hosting
day, and re-
IPM, Mark
funded the
a beautiful
hopefully
we’ll
return
in
2019!
presentation and they are now resplendent in frames
carved with tobacco leaves (or close to); Sandra also
located a huge banner not
seen since
1985
and Taberer
Angus
Fourth
Warden
Paul
Menzies, Clerk to the Master Mariners and never shy
of a challenge saw to it that it was displayed on the
Quarterdeck.
Whilst all this was going on, apparently biblical-
style downpours were being had all over London
- oblivious to all that drama we ended our lunch
and trooped back to the quarterdeck where Coffee,
Cigars, and Cognac awaited us (I did mention that
our Livery enjoyed dining on the High C’s..) and
which seemed to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma
Freeman had kindly provided the torpedo cigars
and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our
Crest emblazoned on it. Several of us also sported
a limited edition Livery Smoking hat - originally
conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty
ordered, but one remained by the close of the day!
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the
use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal
Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my
year such a special start.
The Master
29
3