Attacked whilst on holiday!
Head Groundsman helps police catch muggers whilst on holiday in Brazil
MICK Moore, Head Groundsman at St John’s College, Oxford, flew to Brazil with wife Sandra for two-weeks holiday on March 16th .... and became an instant celebrity when he fought off a street gang and then helped police catch his attackers. Any hopes of a relaxing holiday were dashed after he tackled the gang in Rio De Janiero - something almost unheard of in the Brazilian capital - and his antics were broadcast across Brazilian TV and reported in the local press. The couple were on the last day of a
short stay in Rio on March 19th and were due to head to Salvador to end their holiday. As they headed back to their hotel,
they were confronted by one of the city’s notorious street gangs. Mick, 63, who was previously head
groundsman with Oxford United at both the Manor Ground and Kassam Stadium for 17 years, said: “As we walked to get past the gang I was struck on the shoulder. I turned around and someone had stuck a five inch blade up under my throat. The first thing I thought was, ‘I’m going to get stabbed’, so I attacked him before he attacked me!”
“I hit him as hard as I could on both shoulders and he toppled back over a hand rail behind him and into a busy road.”
Other gang members managed to grab a couple of shopping bags from Sandra before running off. The couple went back to their hotel and reported the incident to their holiday rep and the police. They decided to stay in the hotel until they were ready to leave for the airport.
Mick and Sandra being interviewd by Brazilian National TV at Rio airport
But the hapless crooks wandered back into view and Mick was determined to make sure the gang were bought to book. He immediately called police to inform them the thieves were near the hotel and started taking pictures of the gang.
When police turned up, Mick
explained to them what he had seen and told them where to look for the gang.
Within thirty minutes the police
returned with the crooks in the back of several vehicles and Mick was asked to go to the station to make a statement. Mick and his wife were then rushed
from the police station to the airport to catch their flight, where they were greeted by reporters and a News crew from Brazilian national television.
Only the Greenkeeper left! Shrivenham Park Golf Club saved from closure by members
The owner of Shrivenham Park Golf Club in Wiltshire, Paul Kirwin, was about to close the doors at the end of March and shut the course down. However, after a meeting with three of the club’s members, John Turner (seniors captain), Mike Jefferies (secretary) and George Platt (captain), he has agreed to lease the course to them for a six-month trial period. Shrivenham Park was first opened in 1968 by Gordon Cox as Bremhill GC and only had nine holes. It has since been extended to a full 18 hole course measuring 5789 yards. It has had several owners over the
years including Chelsea Football Club legend, Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris. Paul Kirwin bought the club from Glen Johnson approximately four and a half years ago. Club secretary, Mike Jefferies, has been a member of the club for over thirty five years. He said: “The members had their AGM and asked us three if we could meet with the owner and see if we could lease it. We approached Paul and he agreed to lease it to us for a six month trial period. After this time, hopefully, we will be able to have a long-term lease of ten or twenty years. So, once we get that we can really go ahead.” “At the moment all members are mucking in and helping out, but on a voluntary basis. We have done pretty
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well in the last month and have got just over 100 members signed up. We have reduced all the fees and are aiming to have 200 new members in the first year.
The only member of staff left at Shrivenham at the moment is the greenkeeper, Trevor White. However, they do have a part-
time teaching professional, Richard Jefferies, who is keen, like the trio who saved the club, to see the junior section improved considerably. “Once we really get going we can improve everything here,” said seniors captain, John White. Hopefully, we can get Shrivenham Park to take off again. We have had two league matches, plus a society meeting, so we are going in the right direction already.” “The junior section is very important
and we have set the fees at only £100, if in full-time education, up to the age of 18. They are the future of this club and must be encouraged. But, if they are a member of our golf school it is even cheaper at just £40.” “We want this club community based. The children are the life blood of the community and we can help the anti-social behaviour problem. The
main thing is to push the children side of things.” “Our pro, Richard, held a school during the Easter week and, on the last two days, had over 24 local children here, which was magnificent.” Hopefully, the members have managed to save the club, and the newly formed company Shrivenham Park Golf Club Limited can make it flourish once more.
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