On his first attempt, Tom Lane from Dorchester won The Society of Dorset Men’s Hambro Golf Cup competition. He will be presented with the fine old silver trophy at the County Dinner in October by the Society’s President Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL.
This annual competition for Society members began in 1938 and takes place at Came Down Golf Club, birthplace of the Ryder Cup. Captain Angus Hambro [1887-1957] had served as a junior member of the Government in the First World War. He was the MP representing Dorset South from 1910-1922 and Dorset North from 1937-45.As a prominent member of The Society of Dorset Men, he donated the silver trophy 75 years ago and it has been competed for every year since.
Peter Fry led the field out at 9:30 am, this year accompanied by Angus McKintyre- competing for the first time. A previous winner, Peter Fry traditionally checks the cards as the competitors come in- so the result can be announced by Golf Organiser John Rousell at the lunch which follows the golf. Among members on the course this year was Sir Patrick “Paddy” Hine GCB GBE, a recent Captain of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club.
The field of 17 players, including six previous winners, found scoring difficult on a sun-baked course, despite a perfect bright and sunny Dorset morning. Tom Lane won with 35 points, followed by Mike Smeaton [33,] then George Johnson, David Shaw and Peter Fry [all on 32 points.] David Shaw won the prize for being nearest the pin in two on the third hole.
The Society of Dorset Men was founded on 7 July 1904. The Society 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
