”When I moved back home to Yorkshire at the end of lockdown, having previously done some volunteering I was keen to volunteer at a charity in Ripon and found Ripon Community Link.
However, despite the best laid plans I was unable to offer as much time as I would have wanted, and so when I became Lady Captain of Ripon City Golf Club at the beginning of 2024 I didn’t hesitate in choosing Ripon Walled Garden as the charity for my captain’s year. I was very fortunate when the Club Captain offered to make this a joint charity meaning all money collected during 2024 would be donated to such a worthwhile local charity.
Through various planned charity raising events we were able to raise £4,806.46, a huge thanks must go to members of the golf club who gave so generously. However, in addition to raising money I spoke with some of the leadership team and we came up with the idea of monthly fun golf sessions where the Members could try their hand at golf but more importantly to have some fun. And so as the weather began to improve and the memory of the long wet winter began to fade a group of Members arrived at the club to try their hand at golf.
Unfortunately the weather wasn’t always as kind as we hoped, one afternoon when it unexpectedly began to rain we had to resort to playing in the ladies locker room. As the weather turned colder we were fortunate to be able to use the village hall at North Stainley to ensure the sessions could continue.
Success can be hard to measure but for me it is the small things, Members wanting to help with the tidying up, trusting me enough to look after a treasured possession while they have a go at getting a ball in to a practice net or sometimes as simple as talking.
The Walled Garden, it’s Members, leadership teams and volunteers are a very special place and I look forward to continuing my connection with them”.
Gail Reed – Ladies Captain 2024 – Ripon City Golf Club
