Here's an opportunity to see exactly who the members of the committee are and to be able to put a face to a name!
Captain - Victor Bowie
I am married to Sonja and have two children, Natasha and Alexander. We have lived in Market Harborough for 23 years and I have been a member of the MHGC since 2004.
Over the last 30 years I have held various managerial positions within top FMCG companies. Between 1991 and 2006 I was the Managing Director for one of the UK's top prestigious wine houses, controlling a staff of 60 people with an average turnover of £55 million.
In 2006 I decided to take early retirement but still maintain active contact with the wine trade through a company I set up with a friend, selling direct to the main national off-trade (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Thresher etc) accounts.
Given the experience I have gained in senior management and my involvement in general catering, I hope to be able to offer a clear focus/direction in the role of House Secretary, and to assist the current MHGC committee in its objective to continue to build a strong foundation for the Club's future.
Hon Treasurer - Rob Pollock
My wife Christine, and I, have been members since 2000, joining a couple of months after we moved to Market Harborough, following 3 years living in the USA. My younger son, Kiefer, has since joined the junior section of the club.Other sporting interests include tennis, and rugby, which I played for just over 30 years.
I have previously served as secretary of a Rugby Club, and treasurer of a Tennis Club - coincidentally, both clubs underwent major infrastructure development during my period of tenure.
My initial professional background was in finance, which then led on to commercial and general management. I am now Managing Director and major shareholder of a Corporate Clothing Company, based in the West Midlands.
Over the years I have been a member of 5 golf clubs and visited many others. In my opinion M.H.G.C. is unique in the friendliness of its members and the welcome it affords. Although my aspirations for the club are to continuously develop the facilities based on a robust financial plan, it cannot be to the detriment of what makes us "special".
Greens Secretary - Earl Harrison
I am
married to Susan and have two children, Otis (who is a junior member and has a
placement on the Leicestershire & Rutland Golf Academy he is also a keen
runner for MHAC) and Dominique (who plays tennis for MHTC under 14’s and 16’s
and has also been awarded a place on the Northants County Netball Academy. We
have lived in Clipston for the past 14 years and I have been a member of the
MHGC since 2005.
My wife
and I originally moved to the shires when my employer relocated from London to
Milton Keynes. After coming to terms with the changing IT Industry I decided
that corporate had ran its course and left and started my first business. Over
the years my companies had provided IT Consultancy and solutions to diverse
places such as the USA, Europe to include a number of African countries. One
major solution that we provided was the Customer Care System for the Sony
PlayStation. Through my current company we continue to provide IT Consultancy
throughout the UK and Europe. Due to business growth we relocated to Market
Harborough and then on to Clipston where we remain.
I have
played quite a few ball sports over the years to include Squash, Tennis and
Cricket, however Squash had remained the main sport, which I still play at
Market Harborough Squash Club. I decided that the fitness level required to
remain a top Squash player was a tad high, so I looked around and Golf seem to be
the next logical step. Prior to joining MHGC I visited all the clubs within
easy reach of Clipston and found that MHGC was suitable for me. On joining I
was introduced to the Saturday morning crowed and pretty much learned the game
from my involvement with that group, this also led to me becoming a member of
the B Team an association that is most enjoyable representing MHGC.
I am a
keen doer and like to get involved, hence, when the issue of a new Greens
Secretary was mentioned, I put myself forward to be considered. The course is
always the main issue for members and I hope to provide guidance and assistant
to the greens staff to ensure that course concerns are addressed and that MHGC
members and visitors can continue to enjoy their golf.
Jim Jacobs
Pat and I have been members of this great club since 2001. We are both keen sports people having previously been involved in sports related businesses. Pat was a professional tennis coach and together we ran a sports racket stringing business for many years. We have played both badminton and tennis at county level.My other interests include walking, the countryside, animals and sports in general.
I was first elected to the committee in 2005 and was re-elected for a further three year term at the 2008 AGM. I am the club's Competitions and Handicap Secretary and welcome all comments, suggestions and pleas for help and advice on any relevant matters.
Away from Golf I am a Chartered Surveyor based in Market Harborough, providing general practice property advice throughout mainland Britain and beyond. I am also the Steward to the Market Harborough and The Bowdens Charity, the largest charity based in Market Harborough having an asset base of over £14m and being able to distribute over £400,000 pa to needy causes and individuals within our town.
My aim is to protect the long term integrity and values of the Club and to help all members to enjoy their golf as they each may wish.
John Bush
I was born in Cardiff and as a first generation Welshman still struggle with the language. I moved to Leicester, Foxton, for work and then East Farndon and now Northampton Road. My wife is Jill who plays golf to keep me company when we travel.
Started playing Golf with work colleagues at St Mellons Golf Club near Cardiff. In those days I had to produce a certificate of six lessons with a professional and three rounds with my sponsors before I was considered for membership.
I joined Market Harborough Golf Club in 1991 but for work reasons played little until I was heading for retirement in 2001. I started regular golf with the Monday Social but for various reasons that did not suit me. I played with the U3A at Kilworth for a while but decided I was wasting my Market Harborough membership and joined the Seniors. I have never looked back – a great group of golfers and good social environment.
I qualified as an Accountant and in South Wales was European Financial Director for an American subsidiary. On moving to England I held various financial and management positions before starting my own business. I developed that and sold it to RCI in 2001 and after a few years consultancy I retired. I am now mainly involved in Charity work with my local Church and the Market Harborough Lions Club and through them Lions nationally. I am national Charities Treasurer for Lions and a Trustee on four Charitable Trusts.
Social Secretary - Gareth Williams
I joined the club in 2006 having moved back to my wife Jackie's hometown of Market Harborough the previous year. Some of you may know me as "Megan's Dad”, Megan being a junior member. I also have another daughter, Anna, who has recently joined the junior section herself.
I started playing golf many years ago at a social level but have only played on a regular basis since joining Harborough. I enjoy playing mainly with the Saturday morning crowd, despite being initiated by playing with Rick Slimmon. Surprisingly, I was not put off! I have also played in the B Team.
Off the golf course, I am a qualified doctor and was a GP for twelve years. Now I work for an occupational health company in Northampton. My job involves advising various government bodies and corporate organisations on health related issues.
When I'm not working or golfing, I am a keen sport fanatic - particularly rugby- being a season ticket holder for Tigers and playing for the first team many years ago myself!
My ambitions as your Social Secretary are to provide a fresh approach to the social calendar and to build on the friendly and welcoming reputation of MHGC.
Communications Officer - David N Russell
I am a relative latecomer to golf, only playing regularly for the past seven or eight years. Anyone playing with me soon understands that it hasn't come that easily to me!
There were a number of local options when I decided to join a Club, all with good friends already as members. I played them all but discovered, just as I had been told, that MHCG was one of the friendliest around. The Saturday morning crowd and Monday night social were instrumental in making me feel very much a part of the Club.
My wife Pam and I run a small publishing business and we have worked on our own for over 15 years now. We publish the trade magazine that is read by companies that either make or sell homecare equipment (wheelchairs, bathlifts, stairlifts etc). We also run a website for the trade and professionals such as Occupational Therapists. We live in Rushton, Northants.
My first period on the Committee was spent developing the website and communications to members and while we have plenty of scope to improve, hopefully we are moving in the right direction. Oh, I'm also a Forest Supporter (sorry!)
Paul Ribbons (Ribbo)
I am married to Samantha and have two lovely children, Zoe and Tahlia. I joined Market Harborough Golf Club in 2001 and have played for the B Team for the past 6 years. Most of the members know me by my nickname (Ribbo). I enjoy playing with the Saturday morning crowd and getting to know everyone within the club.
Off the golf course I am a Manager for an engineering firm in Wigston and have been in management for the past 15yrs (hard to believe I know). In my opinion we have a great club and a excellent course. My ambitions are to make sure we have communication between members and the committee and to drive the Club forward. I have a lot of experience within committee's and feel I can offer the club a great deal.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas. Look forward to hearing from you all.
David Smith
I took up golf in 2000 and joined our Club two years later. I'm still waiting for the golf to improve! My wife, Pat Hampson, is also a member here and we both enjoy mixed socials and matches. In recent years we have become increasingly involved with the Club (she is Ladies' treasurer) and I now play mostly with the Seniors. As Vice-Captain of the section, I am looking forward to next year and the challenges it brings.
I had an itinerant career in banking, which included spells in corporate banking and management training that led to roles in change management and strategic planning in London. A move to the East Midlands brought us to East Farndon in 1997 and I took early retirement from Barclays in 2000. Since then I have been active in our own management consultancy, mostly in training managers of all disciplines in a range of skills including financial awareness. I hope to be able to use this experience to help in planning the Club's future.
Past Captain - Peter Webb
Born and raised in Northampton, I'm a very proud half Scot, my mother from Perth and my father from Northampton. Having been given the Golf bug by my father and encouraged by work colleagues, I eventually hung up my football boots and I took up Golf in 1989. I've been a member at two other local courses and eventually joined Market Harborough Golf Club in April 1997.
I immediately joined the Saturday morning crowd and have been a very keen member ever since. I think this is a great social introduction for new members and envied by many other clubs. Having served on the committee since 2008, I have been involved in clubhouse development, social committee, health and safety and more recently investigating the introduction of buggies. I also captained the B Team for 3 years.
I have a mechanical engineering background but now work as a Director for an electrical engineering company Orange Instruments Ltd based at Moulton Park, Northampton, we sponsor the 16th Hole. I live in Brixworth with my wife Sue who I married in 1981. We have two grown up sons Tom & Sam of whom I'm very proud, all of us work in engineering.
As well as Golf, I have a very keen interest in Dogs (own a Weimaraner) & walking, Football (Arsenal follower) & Motor Sport (McLaren follower)
Angela Allington
I am Market Harborough born and spent my childhood in the village of Welford, just over the Northamptonshire border.
My career has been with Midland Bank (now HSBC) and I worked in the Market Harborough branch in the 1980s before moving on to various managerial roles in Birmingham and Leicester. I escaped once but am now working on a consultancy basis.
I was originally a mixed hockey player, through which I met my husband Vaughan. He introduced me to golf and I have had the bug ever since. I currently play off 14 and have aspirations to get down to single figures (we can all have dreams!). Our son James, who is 12, has also started to play.
Previously members of Purley Chase (Warks) and Moseley, Birmingham, we joined Market Harborough in 2001 after moving back to the area.
I have found the club very friendly and welcoming and have enjoyed being a part of the Ladies section. I became Treasurer in 2007.
Do Sharman
I have been a member of MHGC since 1979 and I have served on various committees of the club over the years. I was Treasurer of the ladies section for 7 years, served on the mainSocial Committee for several years during the 9Os and I am again currently serving on that committee.
In 2004 I became Handicap Secretary of the ladies section, followed by Vice Captain in 2006 and Captain of the ladies section in 2007. I am currently serving on the maingeneral committee. It has been a great privilege to represent our very friendly and active ladies section.
In my younger days I played county tennis and also enjoyed playing squash, badminton and table tennis. Apart from playing golf which I love, my other hobbies are cooking and entertaining my friends, playing bridge, walking, travel and reading.. I have a wonderful partner named Geoff with whom I have shared the past 26 years with. I was a Company Accountant in my working life and I am now enjoying my retirement.
Ladies Captain - Chris Pollock
I have been a Member of MHGC since 2000 with my husband Rob. I have been on the Ladies Committee for the past three years supporting the Competition Secretary. I am also a member on the Social Committee.
I was born in Gateshead (A Geordie girl at heart) and have been married to Rob for 22 years. We have two sons, the younger one being a big sportsman and also enjoys his golf. We lived in the USA for 3 years before moving to Market Harborough 11 Years ago.
Ladies Vice Captain - Liz Harris
I was born in Galway and went to school in both Galway and Dublin.
After leaving school I worked for an Insurance company in Dublin and then spent a year in Paris before coming to live in Newcastle upon Tyne. I worked for Agfa in customer services looking after their major clients in the North of England driving approximately 36,000 miles a year. Subsequently Steve and I went to Ireland to open a boat yard (our midlife crisis!). We joined Market Harborough Golf Club in 1998 just after we moved to Harborough. I have served on the Ladies committee for six years with three years as Secretary.
I also spent six years on the Social Committee during which time we had the Summer Ball of 2007.