The Montgomerie Suite at Farrington Park was the place to be last Friday evening. Former Seniors’ Captain, David Elliott, had chosen Wizzybugs as his preferred charity during his reign as Captain. Just before Christmas, he suggested a Charity Dinner to raise funds and where a sporting personality could entertain the diners.
Within four weeks, Billy Foster, caddy to PGA professional and Ryder Cup player, Lee Westwood, was booked and it was ‘game on’!
One hundred and twenty people, not all golfers, incidentally, were wined, dined and entertained. After thirty years on tour and one of the most popular caddies on the circuit, Billy regaled his audience with his tales of life as a ‘bag man’, carrying for the likes of Gordon Brand Jnr, Seve Ballesteros, Thomas Bjorn, Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke, and now with Lee Westwood.
Following a very successful raffle, which raised over £1,100, an auction was held with donated items, fetching an unbelievable £1,700.
With members of the golf club and local businesses sponsoring the event, a final figure in excess of £9,000 was raised. The charity, Designability, based in Bath, provide ‘Wizzybugs’, unique, powered wheelchairs for children aged fourteen months to five years. The money raised far exceeded everyone’s expectations and a delighted Matthew Jacobs from the charity thanked all of those involved in the organisation and subsequent fundraising for their incredible efforts.