Brocklehurst - soon to visit Atlanta where he took the opportunity to present the American Club with a 50-year tie. “I visited Atlanta myself in 1998,”
recalls Keith. “And it gave me enormous pleasure to see the tie displayed in one of their cabinets.” Keith designed and bought the ties
himself. An illness to the then secretary and business pressures of Keith’s own meant the 50-year ceremony lay dormant until years later when he and a new Secretary, Chris Moore, hunted down the residual batch of ties. They were duly presented to all those
who had reached 50 years since that first dinner and thus began a nod of acknowledgement that now takes place annually. “At the start,” said Keith, “all I wanted
to do was recognise that 50 years is a long, long time to be a member of the Club and I thought it would be nice to mark the attainment in a pleasant social setting.” As if
it were yesterday he reeled off
the menu: potted shrimps, fillet steak, Bombe Alaska, cheese and biscuits. All accompanied by a fine claret and vintage port he brought from home.
I had a microphone hidden in the flowers! “I thought the conversations at that
dinner would be worth recording so I had a microphone hidden in the flowers! Sadly, the tapes were stolen when my car was broken into a few days later. ‘’I do though, recall Bruce Thompson
telling me that as a junior he clearly remembered the great John Ball, walking over from the Royal Hotel to join his caddy on the first tee. He also mentioned that John Ball
rarely came into the
clubhouse.” Keith
reached his own 50-year
milestone in 2006. “Chris Moore called me and said there was good news and bad. The good news was that I was a 50- year member along with Anthony Shone and David Haydock. The bad was that there were only two ties left!” Keith duly provided more ties and
estimates about 170 have been handed out down the years. These days the 50-year ‘new boys’ are
presented with their ties by the captain at the Senior Members Luncheon where 50-year Club members are joined by all members over 80.
Left: John Ball plaque
The ladies were more than welcome
when they joined the Senior Members’ Lunch last year and it was pleasing to see Audrey Williams receiving her 50- year scarf having joined the club in 1958. Trudie Crawshaw and Greta Simpson also received a scarf, both having joined in 1963. “It’s a good tradition and I’m proud of
it,” said Keith. “One day perhaps it will be known as the Keith Dodman tie.’’ ■
ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2017 MAGAZINE
55
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
