TTBS National golf

Sponsored by MH Southern & Co Ltd in memory of the late Robert Bruce and held at the prestigious Northumberland Golf Club, High Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, the Timber Trades’ Benevolent Society (TTBS) National Golf Day saw 70 players tackle the testing championship course with a nine-hole morning greensomes competition and an 18-hole afternoon individual stableford.

Other sponsors were James Jones, LDT, Katherine Bruce, Grayson Bruce, Tri Construction, NHG Timber, Stora Enso UK, SCA Products UK, Timbmet, CSI (Specialities), Robbins Timber, Kullick Gill & Robinson, W Howard, Timber Connection, Glennon Brothers and Ecochoice.

The weather was dry all day, but with a stiff breeze, which added to the testing conditions. However, some excellent performances were produced by the golfers competing for the splendid collection of regional and overall winners trophies.

The trophies were presented by Katherine Bruce at the presentation dinner held at the club and the Bruce family members also manned the afternoon halfway house refreshments sponsored by Jack Bruce’s company Tri Construction Ltd.

TTBS special guests included Ivan Savage (recently retired TTBS CEO), Christella

Golby (the new TTBS general manager), Tony Shelton (TTBS national president for 2023/2024) and two of the TTBS trustees, Barbara Cartwright and John Taylor.

James Southern thanked all the players, the sub-sponsors, the Bruce family and all the other special guests for supporting the event in memory of Robert Bruce, who died in September 2022 aged just 63 following a short illness. Mr Bruce, sales director at MH Southern & Co Ltd, had been a stalwart supporter of the TTBS for over 30 years, having been north-east regional president, national president in 2015/2016 and subsequently a TTBS trustee.

Mr Southern also thanked Ivan Savage for his help in organising the 2023 event and for all his excellent work on behalf of the TTBS and wished him a long and happy retirement.

The event raised just over £10,000 and the TTBS looks forward to seeing everyone again at next year’s event.