Shropshire golf captains pledge support to veterans
A golf club's new captains started their time in office by pledging to support a charity's veteran support centre.
Lilleshall Hall Golf Club will this year raise money for the Royal British Legion's Battle Back Centre, based at the nearby Lilleshall National Sports Centre.
Men's captain Geoff Sellars and lady's captain Julie Cann chose the centre for its work to help service personnel and veterans who have suffered injury or trauma recover, and return to civilian life.
They said their decision was made because of the centre's "ethos of enablement and support" for people injured in combat, and Geoff drew on his own Navy experience.
The centre is funded and delivered by the Royal British Legion. Staff there lead activities including climbing, watersports, caving, wheelchair basketball, clay shooting and archery.
Also at the centre is residential accommodation for 24 people at a time, with 16 rooms fully equipped for those who need wheelchair access or have other requirements.
Geoff and Julie will "drive into office" this Saturday, symbolically hitting a golf ball each down the first hole. They will lead activities throughout the year to raise money for the Battle Back Centre.
Devastating
Geoff, himself a veteran with 22 years of experience with the Royal Navy, said: "We have selected the Battle Back Centre as our charity this year and hope to raise thousands of pounds to support their valuable work.
"My experience of the devastating effects that working within war zones can have on individuals came to the fore whilst at the Defence School of Photography, as the civilian commanding officer for 10 years.
"I trained many infantry soldiers to operate as combat camera teams working on the front line. It is not just the physical injury but also the mental issues that working in a war zone can generate.
"I know that Battle Back works with servicemen and women who have been mentally and physically scarred by war to help them live normal civilian lives. As a local charity they are close to my heart and I am keen to see their work in the region grow."
Geoff has been playing at Lilleshall Hall for eight years and plays with a handicap of 18. He said: “It’s a very friendly club and I became involved on the club committee very quickly.
"I am keen to let more golfers know about the club’s friendliness and welcoming atmosphere together with the continual development of the course.
"We have seen club membership grow at unprecedented levels over the past 18 months and I would like to see this continue throughout my year as captain, setting a firm foundation for the future of the club."
Enthusiasm
Julie joined Lilleshall Hall Golf Club in 2009 and plays off 16, representing the club in Handicap League Matches across the county.
She said: “I love playing golf at Lilleshall Hall, particularly as the members are all very friendly and the course is beautiful and often challenging.
"It’s the enthusiasm of members, staff and committee pulling together that makes us a very social club. I’m wanting to perpetuate this during the year and get more ladies playing golf.
"Having an award-winning restaurant at the club is also a great asset that we want more people to come and enjoy."
For more information on the Battle Back Centre visit britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/recovery/the-battle-back-centre/
