Since 1938, golfing members of The Society of Dorset Men have competed annually for the Angus Hambro Cup. This year the competition was won by Richard Harris, the first time he has entered the contest. The silver cup will not move far as last year’s winner was Tom Lane and they both live at Poundbury- about half a mile away from each other.
Peter Fry and Arthur Evans, both previous winners of the trophy, led out the field at 9.30am. It has become a tradition that Peter Fry checks the cards as the competitors come in, so the result can be announced at the lunch which follows.
Richard Harris from Poundbury, with a fine 37 points was the winner, followed by Neil Gatehouse [35 points] second and Peter Fry [34 points] in third place. Prizes for nearest the pin in two on the third hole and nearest the pin on the tenth hole were won by Angus McIntyre and Neil Gatehouse respectively.
A convivial lunch followed the competition at Came Down Golf Club, birthplace of the Ryder Cup. Following lunch, the prizes were presented by Hayne Russell, Secretary of The Society of Dorset Men. Thanks were expressed to John Rousell, who has organised the competition for many years.
The 76 year old Hambro Cup will be formally presented to Richard Harris by the Society’s President, Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL, at the County Dinner on 25 October.
Captain Angus Hambro [1883-1957] from Milton Abbas was a leading member of The Society of Dorset Men. He served as a junior member of the Government in the First World War. He was the Conservative MP representing Dorset South from 1910-22 and Dorset North from 1937-45. He was a Captain in the Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry.
Founded 110 years ago on 7 July 1904, The Society of Dorset Men has a long and rich history, beginning as The Society of Dorset Men in London and aiming to bring together fellow Dorsets in the capital city. However, since the 1950s, the main activities of the organisation have been centred on Dorset. Today, there are around 1,200 members throughout the UK and all over the world. The President is Oscar winner and ITV Downton Abbey playwright Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL. He succeeded Sir Anthony Jolliffe GBE DL DSc DMus in 2011, the only Lord Mayor of London to be born in Weymouth, who still lives in Wyke Regis.
The four objects of The Society of Dorset Men are: “to make and to renew personal friendships and associations, to promote good fellowship among Dorset men wherever they may reside, to foster love of the county and pride in its history and traditions and to assist, by every means in its power, natives of Dorset who may stand in need of the influence and help of the Society.”
Michel Hooper-Immins
Attached photograph:
This year’s competitors for The Society of Dorset Men’s Angus Hambro golf cup. This year’s winner Richard Harris stands on the far right. Last year’s winner Tom Lane is pictured third from right, holding the Angus Hambro Cup.
Photograph by John Rousell.
