Busy Down Ponteland Way This Winter

Four prominent, highly respected Ponteland business men, the late Dick Dodsworth and Paul Syron, Bob Frame, now in his late nineties, and the evergreen Brian Parker, agreed, some 31 years ago, to entertain a number of customers, colleagues and friends to an afternoon's golf, followed by dinner, at Ponteland Golf Club.  "The Ponteland Masters" was born.  This wonderful tradition has continued thanks to the sterling efforts of Brian, now ably assisted by Graham Minett and Graham Wilson.

Last summer a raffle was held in memory of Dick and the proceeds donated to the Rotary Club of Ponteland of which he was, for many years a very active and productive member, including two terms as President.  He was a keen walker, gardener and countryman so it was mutually agreed that a fitting tribute would be to place a park bench at the junction of Rotary Way and the bridle path, a feature many local residents would find afforded a welcome few minutes' respite from their exercise.  As can be seen from the photograph, it does, indeed, look perfect.

In January 2008 the Rotary Club approached Ponteland Golf Club to determine if they could hold their weekly meetings and a number of annual functions there.  This suggestion was very warmly received and Rotarians are now frequent, welcome visitors to the clubhouse.  Almost simultaneously the wall plaque advertising the Club fell into disrepair so the opportunity was taken to replace it.  Within a few days of the positioning of the park bench this new plaque was fixed to enhance the entrance to the Golf Club.

Now the Club returns to normal arranging and organizing its many annual activities and so helping those less fortunate than themselves locally, nationally and, perhaps especially in these distressing times, internationally.

Stewart Blair