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Chris Tarmey (son of Mick Tarmey) being presented with the Mini Golf Winners Trophy by Lt Col (SMAA) Jason Hughes
Reporting on another wonderfully successful Branch Reunion weekend seems a most appropriate and relevant way to close off my notes for this reporting period. I am delighted to report that the Branch continues to operate extremely effectively and grow in strength and numbers, primarily due to the strong family ethos that we have worked so hard to engender and establish over the years. I know that the notion of a family ethos is something very close to the heart of our SMAA and never is it more evident than when retired and serving members get together as a Corps family. In the wise words of our Colonel Commandant, Lt Gen James Bashall CB CBE - ‘We Are One Corps.’
NORTH EAST BRANCH
GOLF SOCIETY
Alec Porter – Branch Golf Representative
The 2023 North East Branch Annual Golf Competition took place once again at the Forest of Galtres Course in York, kindly organised by our resident member Dave Huffen on Saturday 25th March. Unusually, numbers were low with only 8 members playing.
In a closely fought match Tom Mulligan eventually prevailed, winning the Branch Competition with 37 Stableford points, closely followed by Dave Huffen on 35 points. Harry Harris picked up the longest drive prize and Jimmy Profitt won nearest the pin prize.
Following on from last year’s Branch Competition, we thought it would be worth trying to get our golfers together to
Sedgefield MP, Paul Howell congratulates Club Captain Dicky Parker on raising £6,703.56 for his chosen charity - Prostate Cancer UK
play more often. As a result, we have since organised some Social Branch Golf days to play in addition to the Annual Branch Competition. Plans are already afoot to organise more social golf days for the year ahead with the next meeting to be held at Brian Pyle’s course in Durham. We are still some way behind the mighty South East Muppets but, as the saying goes, from small acorns we hope to grow. Should we call ourselves the North East ‘Muppet Babies’?
Dicky Parker organised an event at his course in Darlington, this time with Brian Pyle joining us and Geoff Chapman coming along to fire the starters pistol. Dick has been Club Captain at the Blackwell Grange Golf Club from February 2022 to February 2023 and by all accounts had a very successful year in that role. On the Club Charity Day, once the 120 players had finished their rounds of golf, Dicky had arranged for Prostate Cancer Blood Tests to be available courtesy of the local NHS for anyone wishing to be tested. As a result, a small number of players were identified with anomalies and were recommended for follow up treatment with their GP and local Hospitals. Well done Dicky for supporting his chosen charity Prostate Cancer UK and the ‘One in Eight’ campaign, which represents the number of men who will be diagnosed with this awful disease in their lifetime. Over the year of his Club Captaincy, Dicky organised numerous fundraising competitions and events and was ultimately able to present a cheque for £6,703.56 to Prostate Cancer UK. A great effort Dicky.
NORTH EAST BRANCH
MINI GOLF SOCIETY
Maj (Retd) Geoff Chapman Mini Golf Representative
After a hearty breakfast in the hotel, most of our merry band of mini golfers assembled in the lobby before marching along to the Park and Ride bus stop which was only a very short walk from our hotel. After flourishing well used bus passes at the driver (except Shelley and I of course) we all settled into our seats for the scenic ride around York and onwards to the Monks Cross shopping and leisure facility and our venue, the modern Puttstars Indoor Mini Golf complex. After checking into the venue we assessed the three different 9 hole courses before selecting the challenging Zig Zag course for our official championship competition. Players were organised into suitable groups of mixed ability and competitiveness and play commenced. Much laughter then ensued at some of the unintentional trick shots, questionable putting skills and ‘miss’ fortunes of the competitors. Shelley kept a tight grip of the scores whilst reminding players to use their Joker option, which could double their point scoring, to best effect. All too soon the golf was concluded and much needed light refreshments of tea and coffee were enjoyed as we chatted and laughed over the highs and lows of each hole. As always, the whole event was enjoyed by all and Shelley and I wish to thank everyone for joining in for a bit of a laugh. We are already looking forward to once again hosting next year’s event and look forward to welcoming everyone who joins us.