In an AGW historical first, members of the Association voted overwhelmingly to afford the women trio of Liz Kahn, Lewine Mair and Nuria Pastor ‘Life Membership’ of the Association.
It is the first occasion in the 84-year history of the Association a woman member has been extended Life Membership let alone three at the same time. Liz, Lewine and Nuria were finally admitted into the AGW together in 1979, so it seemed highly appropriate and fitting all three be honoured together.
It goes without saying, it was not easy at the time being a woman correspondent in a highly male-dominated profession and the AGW was no different but fortunately times are changing for the better within the AGW and the annual general meeting vote to approve Liz, Lewine and Nuria mirrored this changing environment with a unanimous decision.
The AGW chose the association’s AGM to make the announcement and seek the necessary approval of the membership after your Secretary first raised this latest Life Membership proposal some months ago.
AGW Chairman Martin Dempster, and speaking at the AGM, indicated that Life Membership proposals are important to him and how, as Chairman he delighted in announcing the committee had agreed with the historic proposal.
AGW Treasuer, Peter Higgs spoke on behalf of Liz saying: “Liz has been a member since 1979 and a year after she was asked to leave the R & A clubhouse here at St. Andrews. That was typical to the start of Liz’s career. She has been a campaigner for women in golf, women golfers and women golf journalists for a very long time. For so many years, she was at the forefront of striving to make life better for women in golf. She very much deserves life membership.
“For the record, Liz was the very first female member of the Press Golfing Society and went on to be their captain. People who know Liz will be aware of what she has done for women in golf and for the AGW”.
Proposer – Patricia Davies
Seconder – Richard Turner
In Liz’s absence from the AGM, a commemorative quaich was sent to her residence and Liz replying by saying:
“A very special package arrived today. Wow, how amazing, an engraved quaich. I have seen them over the years and associate them with Renton. I see that it is a welcoming or saying goodbye to friends and also the cup of friendship or a loving cup. I will take the latter two! It is a lovely possession and obviously very special to have it and my Life Membership. Please pass this on and my very appreciative thanks to everyone”.
Isabel Trillo spoke at length on behalf of Nuria saying: “There was a time when Raul Andrew counted 99 males and just one female reporting at a Spanish golf touranment and the lone woman was Nuria Pastor. She said that Nuria considered it a great honour to be appointed a life member. She was the first Spanish female journalist to attend the Masters and other majors. Nuria said to thank everyone at the Association for the award.
Proposer – Andy Farrell
Seconder – Isabel Trillo
Isabel kindly returned to Spain with the quaich for Nuria and with Raul Andrew then presenting the quiach to Nuria. Nuria saying: “Raul Andrew gave me today the bowl of the Association Life Membership. Thank you very much. It’s really a great honour for me”.
And the AGW grabbed the opportunity to share news of Nuria’s award with her long-time good friend Jose Maria Olazabal who was competing in the Senior Open by Rolex at Gleneagles. Jose Maria was good enough to share the following video message:
John Hopkins spoke on behalf of Lewine Mair saying: “Lewine has been a champion of women’s rights, a pianist, a diarist better than Samuel Peats and an all-round good journalist”.
Proposer – Robin Barwick
Seconder – Matt Cooper
Lewine spoke of the honour saying: “It is really a huge honour for the three of us to be afforded Life Membership, and with Liz Kahn to be afforded special mention for once being asked to leave the R & A clubhouse. I am afraid I fell fowl of the golf writers very early. I think it was Percy Huggins who asked me to write a piece for the Golfers Handbook. He asked me how much I was expected to be paid and I said ‘the same as the men!’. He thought that was quite a joke and so much so, went and told all the other golf writers. My husband came back to me to say: ‘I hear you asked to be paid the same as the men for your story. He said ‘good for you’ but then I don’t know how many other people agreed. So that was a bit scary.
“Then once we were made members, that’s when we were getting the same gifts as the men, and I can’t tell you how many ties and caps I have been given over the years (laughing). I think it was yesterday more than anything I realised that I so liked being a member of the AGW. I went into the media restaurant, and there weres so many people here and from all over the world and some were AGW members and some were potential members. I thought to myself what a great society we have to embrace so many people. Now I know that people talk about growing the game but if anyone is growing the game, it is us golf writers. I think we should all appreciate that we are not just the bottom of the heap but we’ve done well in achieving outside our own society.
“So, thank you Martin for all your hard work. Bernie and Peter a well done for your work. So, thank you all very much indeed“. Applause.
Congratulations to Liz, Lewine and Nuria from everyone at the Association – so richly deserved!
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