Hereunder, is a collection of thank you and New Year well wishes notes from those in receipt of an AGW Christmas hamper. Thank you to everyone for your kind words and you goodwill messages to all AGW members.
- Messages posted in alphabetical order
Neil Ahern
I wanted to email you all to send a massive personal thank you to the AGW for your extremely generous gift which arrived in the post yesterday evening. It really is a lovely gesture, completely unexpected but hugely appreciated, especially from my wife who has already devoured the confectionary popcorn over an episode of The Crown!
If this very challenging 2020 has demonstrated anything, it is the importance of gaining the respect, trust and companionship of those people we work alongside on a regular basis – there are bigger and more valuable things in life than the ‘daily grind’ and it’s all about the people we meet and spend time with during the course of our work, and making an impact on each other’s lives through friendship, respect and kindness. That, to me, is Kate’s legacy more than anything else. I only wish we could all gather this Christmas to toast her memory and the crazy year that has been in golf and in life, but I know that will eventually happen and it will be done in the best of spirits and in the best of company. Thank you to everyone at the AGW, we appreciate everything you do and how you deal with us on a daily basis in these strange and stressful times for every industry. Happy Christmas to you all.
Best regards,
Neil Ahern, Senior Press & Communications Officer, European Tour
Mike Blair
Santa has come early this year! As usual a stirring surprise so very much appreciated — especially that lovely bottle what with the pubs being in the mess they are.
A great big thank you.
Mike Blair
Clare Bodel
I just wanted to say a quick thank you for the lovely hamper from the AGW. I can report that I have made good headway into it already, so it was very much appreciated!
Hope you and yours have a great Christmas, and manage to have some semblance of celebration in these strangest of times.
All the best.
Clare
Clare Bodel, Senior Press & Communications Officer, European Tour
Margaret Broadley
Delighted to receive hamper Peter.
The Malbec went first! Have to say the contents this year all went down well….
Thank you and all at Golf Writers once again …
It was particularly appreciated this year, cheered me up !
It’s been such a horribly weird and trying one for so many .
Let’s hope 2021 is an awful lot better !
Best wishes,
Margaret
Briony Carlyon
Thank you so much for the Christmas hamper that was delivered a few weeks ago. I have certainly enjoyed some of the snacks here in London (tier4) since coming back from Dubai but it was very much a welcome surprise.
I hope you all have wonderful Christmas and NY with your close ones.
All the best and hopefully see you at a golf tournament soon in 2021.
Cheers,
Briony
Briony Carlyon, Senior Press & Communications Officer, European Tour
Jeremy Chapman
My booby prize for shooting 118 at Royal Mid-Surrey has arrived and it’s even nicer than the trophies I used to win when I could sort of play our silly game.
I shall have to finish last again and see what other nice surprise you have for this battered old warrior who has finally been put out to grass after 49 years in daily sports betting journalism with The Sporting Life and Racing Post.
Covid got me in the end – with no racing or sport to write about, it shut the Post down for two months, they had £18m to retrieve, and luxury contributors like me were first for the chop. It was totally expected when some staffer could do it for next to nothing and pleased to get his name in lights. At 79 it was an innings even David Malan would have settled for. Would have liked to get the half-century up next year but it wasn’t to be.
Seriously, the Christmas hamper was a most lovely thought, just a pity that as I am nil by mouth for what’s left of my days, I can only look at it as Christa, my two girls and four grandchildren tuck in.
Thank you all for your love and maybe I will see some of you at Walton Heath in the Spring. It is hard to find anyone willing to play with me these days. The only one I can beat is my ten-year-old grandson. It won’t be for much longer as he already hits it past my puny best, not difficult. It’s what life is about, isn’t it?
I’ve started a weekly blog for posh bookmakers Fitzdares but can’t see it lasting except for the big weeks as their prices and each-way terms are not marvellous and I don’t think I am noticeably increasing their membership or profits. Trying to tip a few losers but not succeeding except when the 300-1 shots win, which seems to be happening more and more.
The 2020 European Tour has been a great success story for Keith Pelley especially in the U.K. with so many tournaments, several of them new. It has been a great backs-to-the-wall effort all round.
Wishing all my old friends and colleagues a good Christmas and a far happier new year. And thank you all again.
Jeremy
Bob Davies
Having retired nearly 20 years ago and having to live through such strange times for the past year, it is reassuring – and a boost to morale – to find that we older members of the AGW have not been forgotten.
It was a real fillip today to receive a Christmas hamper from the Association, which will make the festive season more enjoyable as we do all we can to dodge the virus.
I would, therefore, be obliged if you would kindly thank the committee for again thinking of me ….. and providing a timely reminder of the many friendships I cherish by being a member of the AGW.
Kind regards,
Bob Davies
Patricia Davies
Season’s greetings to you and all members of the AGW and their families and very belated thanks for my Christmas hamper, much appreciated. (Thought I’d said thank you but realised I hadn’t matched the deed to the thought, apologies.)
All the best for 2021, Patricia
Margaret Dodd
Many thanks to the AGW for the Christmas hamper.
I hope you, your family and all members have kept well in this very difficult year.
Best wishes to you all for 2021.
Margaret Dodd
Colin Farquharson
Very many thanks for the Christmas Hamper. It is much appreciated . Please pass on my thanks to the AGW members.
Hope you and yours are keeping well and safe in these troubled times.
Yours
Colin F
Tony Garnett
How kind of you to send me the marvellous AGW Christmas hamper to brighten these dark days. I am really grateful and thank you for your immense generosity.
During lockdown I have hardly left home. My deteriorating left hip means I no longer drive.
I have still been providing a weekly golf page for the East Anglian Daily Times but have now used up all my travel stories. I am running short of ideas with so little golf being played. I am grateful for the help of Suffolk Golf Union.
Although I retired as secretary of Suffolk PGA some years ago I continue to help the current secretary-chairman, Rushmere professional Kelvin Vince, with some of his secretarial work that I can do from home.
The contents of the wonderful hamper and knowledge that AGW has me in their thoughts cheers me up me up no end.
Very happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year when I hope that golf (and the rest of the country) gets back on the rails.
Tony Garnett
David Hamilton
There was a ring on the bell. I went to the door but no one was there. However, I looked down and there was a parcel on the step. It was too early for Santa Claus so who could it be from.
It was from my golf writing friends. How wonderful to get a Christmas gift this early. It shows that we oldies are not forgotten in these difficult times.
Many thanks to the Association and especially to Peter Higgs for all his efforts, hope everyone has a Happy Christmas and stay safe.
Once again, many thanks
Dave Hamilton
Peter Haslam
I write to express my thanks to the officers and members of the AGW for the gift of Christmas hamper. It really is most welcome as is the knowledge that my wife and I are in their thoughts at this time. Valerie was diagnosed with terminal cancer some eighteen months ago but last week her oncologist told us she was in complete remission-a fantastic Christmas present. As for myself, as I reach my 87th birthday later this month, I am in reasonable health but old age does not come alone.
Please pass on my thanks and gratitude to my former colleagues and friends as well as my good wishes for a happy time ahead and success n their future endeavours.
Peter Haslam
Alan Herron
Many thanks for the bumper hamper which arrived, timely, Just after my 92nd birthday. Generosity like this brings a lump to my throat and recalls memories of my journeys over so many courses, particularly in 1953 where Hogan convinced me that golf is THE game. Alan
John Ingham
Many thanks for the hamper. It is much appreciated!
Season’s Greetings to all
Sincerely, John
Lindy Johnson
As the AGW has been so generous over the years and sent me some gorgeous hampers for Christmas (now 21 since Bill’s death) for which I am very grateful, I feel I should tell you that for this year at least, I will be in New Zealand for Christmas with two of my daughters, they live there.
One of them came over to the UK and took me home with her for two and a half months, the other was going to take me back as she was going with her husband on a European cycling holiday, which never happened as I arrived on 2nd March, lockdown started on 25th March! If either of them travel with me they face two weeks of quarantine when they return, they both have full time jobs and one has two children, the younger of whom is only six.
I can no longer travel by myself, I had a major stroke in June 2019 and am quite disabled, I now walk with a walker or in a wheelchair and can do little with my right hand and arm, I can’t even write! My third daughter is in the US for three and a half years in Washington DC so there is no-one at home for me and I would like to stay here but the Immigration Office here for residency is closed and we don’t know when it will open again, so I’m in a bit of a dilemma! I suppose it will sort itself out eventually! Bring on the vaccine!
All this to tell you that I cannot receive a hamper if you are sending them this year, there is no-one at home! I know I should let Peter Higgs know, but I don’t have his email.
Best wishes to you all,
Lindy Johnson
Lewine Mair
In the nick of time – i.e. ahead of today’s meeting – can I say a big thank you for the wonderful Christmas hamper. A hamper makes for a great gift and, every time I qualify for one, I think of how much all the other lucky people will be enjoying theirs. Thank you to Peter for doing the arranging. With best wishes to everyone connected with the AGW, Lewine.
Michael McDonnell
Even in remote Norfolk the AGW hamper found its way to my front door. Many thanks. It is so nice to be remembered by valued colleagues. And please thank Peter Higgs for his efforts. All the best, Michael McDonnell
Paddy Mearing
A loved note from Paddy’s son, Tim to advise his father was really pleased to receive the Christmas hamper and also indicating Paddy and his mother, Therese are in good health and how delighted Paddy is to still be remembers by the Association that he has been a member for so many years.
Jane Morgan
Jane very kindly sent a thank you card and expressing her best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all AGW members.
James Mossop
Good Afternoon Peter, once again you have made an old man very happy with the generous AGW hamper. You probably realise already that the excellent Malbec was consumed within a couple of hours of the hamper being opened. It gave a pleasant lift to the dreariness of lockdown in Tier 3. Anyway, I am booked in for my Covid vaccination next Wednesday with the second one 21 days later.
Here’s wishing you and everyone a safe and very happy Christmas…from James Mossop.
David & Margaret Oakley
Hello and a happy Christmas to the golf writers. Below is from my mother who was delighted yet again to receive a Christmas hamper from the Association of Golf Writers.
Kind regards,
David Oakley
I greatly appreciated receiving the Christmas hamper with all the lovely Christmas items inside. A big thank you to you all at the Association of Golf Writers and hope you have a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Best wishes,
Pat Oakley
Graham Otway
A massive thanks for the hamper which arrived full of tasty stuff. Getting it was one of the biggest surprises of my life !!!!
Hope all is well with you, Best, Otters
Bryan Potter
The annual reminder of my happy days as an active member of the AGW turned up today – the Christmas hamper. And what a lovely collection to enjoy over the holiday. Thank you guys.
Just finished a a six-week session of chemo for minor intrusions in my bladder.Feel fine today but tomorrow its back again to cardiac to have a new, high tech pacemaker upgrade.
I am so lucky that this wonderful West Suffkolk Hospital has fitted me in so quickly in the middle off their nightmare with the current virus.
Anyway I wish you all a very happy Xmas and hope the New Year gets you all back to normal coverage of the tournament circuits.
Bryan Potter
Gordon Richardson
Merci beaucoup once more for the Christmas goodies…Louisette and I will be familess herein Bergerc durin Noel but our splendid hamper will be a reminder of our many friends and colleague past and present.
It’s 56-ears since Michael McDonnell and I joined the AGW. …….WOW! His “Forgive us our Press passes” chronicles the amazing times we had charging around the golfing globe.
I feel very privileged. Its wonderful to know us wrinklies are not forgotten. The memories will come flooding back as we much our mince pies so cheers to one and all from the Dordogne!
Gordon
Donald Steel
Very grateful thanks for my box of goodies. Keep up the good work. It didn’t happen when I was Treasurer!
With warm festive greetings. Donald
Barry Ward
Many, many thanks for the Christmas gift box you’ve again devised with such imagination. It came as a delightful and timely surprise; not that I’d forgotten the others, mind you. Let’s just say that, memory being the culprit here, I’d overlooked them!
As usual, I blame Anna Domini, a naughty lady who lands me in endless scrapes. … (but she’s good fun, so I persevere and I’m growing old disgracefully in consequence…)
In light of the abnormal Christmas scene this year, the gift was particularly apposite for someone who lives alone and is unable to visit family. Doubtless other recipients are in similar straits and will join me in offering grateful thanks and greetings to all our old chums of the AGW. Perhaps, inshalla, we’ll meet some of them at Brancaster in November?
My personal best wishes to you and yours. May you all have a Happy Christmas and continuing success in the coming year. Who knows: we may have an Open Championship to relish and perhaps our Ryder Cup will runneth over once more!
Warm regards,
Barry.
John Whitbread
I had just been musing on how every day seemed the boring old same in a dark and difficult year, when the delivery man arrived with a wonderful spirit raising package.
I feel very fortunate to receive such a fine presentation hamper and I would like to thank our dear friend Peter Higgs for organising the distribution of these real morale boosters. It reminds me once more why I am so proud to be a member of the AGW- a very special band of friends and colleagues.
Have a fine Christmas and here’s hoping to meet up with you and all other AGW chums in 2021
John Whitbread
Joan Wilson
Thank you very much for sending me a hamper once again this year, it really does feel like Xmas has started when it arrives. Delving into the yellow straw to bring out so many surprises fills me with joy every time – it must be the child still in me!
Happy Xmas to all at the AGM and let’s hope with the prospect of a vaccine in the New Year we can return to normal again in 2021.
Good health and best wishes,
Joan (Wilson)
Ben Wright
Dear Peter Higgs,
I do not recollect ever having met you, but at the age of 88 that is open to suspicion! But I can honestly say that I was moved to tears when I received the AGW hamper for Christmas. I still regard England as home, even though I have spent nearly 50 years here enjoying a very lucrative career with CBS TV. But the country I fell in love with has now become a hell hole!
I cannot find easily the words to express the gratitude I feel to you and the members of the AGW for your magnificent generosity.
Yours very sincerely,
Ben Wright.
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