Anniversary celebration golf day raises over £15,000 for local charity
A celebration marking 40 years of service has raised over £15,000 for a local charity.
Paul and Jo Giles are both celebrating 40 years in their respective careers and combined the two to raise money for a good cause.
Paul Giles has been the deputy head groundskeeper at Leckford Golf Club for four decades and his wife Jo has worked as a health care assistant for the NHS for the same amount of time. Together, they combined their passions to hold a charity golf day to raise funds for Winchester Hospice, where Jo now works caring for local people in their last days.
Paul said: “When Jo and I were approaching our 40th anniversaries in work, we wanted a way to mark it and create a special memory. We’re so fortunate to be supported by a wonderful group of friends and family that we wanted to marry up something we enjoyed that others could join in too, with the opportunity to raise funds for a local charity dear to our hearts.
“Every day Jo cares for people, and their families, going through the most difficult time, so choosing to support the hospice was an easy decision for us as we knew the money we raised would really help our community.”
92-year-old Ken Wilson takes the first shot
Leckford Golf Club supported the event by donating the course for the day and over a quarter of club members took part to support Paul, Jo and the hospice.
The day began with a welcome bacon roll before the oldest member of the club, 92-year-old Ken Wilson, got the day underway by hitting the first ball. He was shortly followed by Richard Giles, the longest serving member of the club who has been playing at Leckford for 50 years, before the rest of the players took to the course.
96 players took around four hours to complete the 18 holes with the odd pit stop for refreshments available around the course. Teams then gathered to enjoy a hog roast, kindly donated by Robinsons Butchers, while awards were handed out and the inevitable fines were paid up. The day culminated in an auction which included a print of Augusta signed by five-time major winner Rory McIlroy, golf and fishing experiences and a hot tub.
The day was supported by friends and family who helped around the course, baked cakes to sell and ran the bar after the golf concluded, as well as local business who sponsored each of the holes.
Jo Westerman, fundraising officer at Winchester Hospice, said; “I’m always bowled over when people choose to mark milestones like this by supporting the hospice. Paul and Jo have done an incredible job putting this day together and I want to thank everyone who came along to support them for their incredible generosity.
“It costs £7,500 a day to fund the care of our patients in the hospice and out in the community for an entire day so this money is going to be put to good use looking after those who need hospice care.”