2025

New fixtures • Damp end to season

May 2025: In excellent weather conditions and a full turnout of 27 players, WIGS  opened its season at  the start of the month at New Zealand GC  for the Neave Trophy and Hart Salver.

Notwithstanding an increased  field and an influx  of new members – all with competitive handicaps – two existing luminaries showed the way forward with Mike O’Connor winning the Neave with 37 points and Mike Yardley the Hart Salver with 35 points. The picture below shows the two winners receiving their trophies from newly installed Captain Nick Smith supported by WIGS Secretary Bill Bower.

The following week saw the WIGS team of Paul Hosking, Ian Chippendale, David Martin and Ryan Warren play in the historic and prestigious Prince Arthur Trophy competition at Walton Heath GC. In a complete reversal of playing conditions they achieved another top quartile final position in the 40 team event.

This week saw the first of our matches against our broker friends CIB London at Denham GC. In recent  years the outcome has been indecisive but this year for all 16 players (pictured) that was to change. All four matches went to the final hole and the WIGS team secured a 3-1 overall win in a contest played in the right spirit on a fantastic course which also has one of best kitchens on the livery golf circuit.

July 2025 Two WIGS teams entered the Newson Smith Cup played at the Drift GC at East Horsley in Surrey and both performed admirably in this multi-livery competition in searing heat. No top three finishes this year but both Messrs Jerrum and Petraitis played well enough to secure nearest the pin prizes of a bottle of wine to quench their thirst.

The following week saw large teams from the Actuaries and Insurers playing at the green oasis of Beaconsfield GC in our annual fixture for the silver Quaich. The five matches were closely contested throughout with three of them going to the 18th hole, including the final match which resulted in a 3-2 victory for the Actuaries. 

WIGS Captain Nick Smith is pictured presenting the trophy to Guy Freemen of the Actuaries

Finally, Nick Smith held his Captain’s Day at Banstead Downs GC on another very warm day with a multi formatted set up which kept all playing members fully involved throughout their round. 

This was supported by several prizes generously donated by him and presented following an enjoyable supper. 

Winners on the day were Mike Yardley (Best Individual Score), David Sales ,Mike O’Conner, Jeff Thomas and Nick Smith (Best Team), Will Otter (Longest Drive) and Richard Bucknall (Nearest the Pin) all of whom are pictured.

 

September 2025 WIGS final full month of the season got off to an unwelcome start with the cancellation of their autumn meeting at Worplesdon GC because of a developing severe weather warning due to arrive at start time.

This is only the second time this had happened to the Society in the last ten years  and that also occurred at the same club.

Fortunately, the following week a WIGS team of Messrs Jerrum, Price and Parlett played in the Tribe London insurance charity golf day organised by fellow WIGS members Nick Stretton and Patrick Smith at the Addington GC and  enjoyed much better weather . 

With a playing field of around 120 players a long round on such a challenging venue was guaranteed but nevertheless over £12,000 was raised for charitable causes. 

WIGS final match of the season was against long standing opponents from Lloyd’s Golf Society at West Sussex GC. Following last year’s drawn match we were optimistic that this year we could get across the line but, as has been a feature all season, the outcome went to the final holes of the final match where Lloyd’s secured a 2.5 v 1.5 victory.

WIGS was sad to hear of the passing of long-standing member Paul Hosking. A tribute to Paul was published in the September E-Bulletin

Tribute to Paul Hosking

 

October 2025: WIGS triumphed in the Inter Livery Cartwright Cup, a crazy golf competition organised  by the Entrepreneurs and Marketors. 21 teams from 17 different livery companies competed at Puttshack in Bank.

The event was packed with excitement fun and fantastic energy celebrating the spirit of inter- livery camaraderie and teamwork

In the team competition the Insurers team (Andy Bye, Alison Wood, Bill Bower and a guest) emerged victorious with a remarkable score of 1481, taking home the impressive silverware (and breaking the Entrepreneurs’ two year winning streak), closely followed by the Founders and Actuaries.
Not to be outdone, the other Insurers team finished very respectably mid table with Rob Hartley securing 2nd place overall in the individual competition.

• Over a dozen WIGS members attended Common Hall to support Mike O’Connor’s Neave Trophy presentation by the retiring Master but a last minute illness meant it was received by WIGS Captain Nick Smith on his behalf.

Two remaining WIGS  fixtures will be played this month, namely the Distillers Cup being played at Tandridge GC – won by WIGS as recently as 2023 – and the final of the  inhouse competition for the new Beckett Shield being played at the same venue between Richard Bucknall and Ian Jerrum. Results will be published next month

November 2025: Having had a glorious summer for its fixtures, autumn has proved to be a very unsatisfactory one for WIGS with the cancellation of yet another competition this time being played at Tandridge GC and organised by the Distillers Company.

 Players got to the 1st tee only to find course  conditions had significantly worsened and the event was cancelled much to everyone’s disappointment. Clearly protocols are being reviewed to ensure earlier notice is provided to avoid unnecessary journeys being made in the future.

However, five days later at the same venue Messrs Bucknall and Jerrum enjoyed much better playing conditions in their match to determine who would be the inaugural winner of the Beckett Shield – the  latest in-house tournament of the Society. Both players played some excellent golf with the lead fluctuating constantly over the first half of the round. That changed after the turn and Ian Jerrum finally triumphed 3 and 2 in what both players described as a very enjoyable.

2023

Busy and varied season

 

May 2023 The new WIGS captain for 2023-24, Bob Beckett, opened his year of office with a stunning win in the Neave Trophy competition at the New Zealand GC in the opening day of the WIGS season.

He held off a fantastic challenge from Past Master and WIGS past captain Tony Lancaster with a better back nine score with both players finishing on 42 points. Tony won the Hart Salver for his efforts and WIGS new President Mike Yardley won the former GW Bridge Trophy with the best gross score on the day of 79.

One week later a WIGS team was in action in the prestigious Prince Arthur Competition played at Walton Heath over 36 holes in a day.

This year Peter Ambler and Stuart Shepley were selected for the first time to join stalwarts Mike Yardley and Ian Chippendale. 

The course had been set up for an earlier professional event and was particularly challenging for all livery participants. 

Consequently, good steady golf was insufficient to command a match winning performance but our team had an excellent long day, appreciated the support from the WCI and others and were honoured to represent WIGS.

 

June 2023  Last month finally saw WIGS improve its dismal past record against the Corporation of London Brokers Golf Society with a drawn match at the Denham Golf Club, thereby skilfully avoiding being the recipient of the unusual trophy (see photo) that records the longevity of the event as well as the past winners.

As always, the match was played in great spirit at a great course which was well set up on the day and provided excellent hospitality to all participants. Andy Bye and Cliff Hampton were the WIGS stars on the day with a good win over their opponents and two other halved matches ensured honours were even at the end of the match which enabled Vice Captain Nick Hughes to share trophy holding duties with his opposite number.

July 2023: WIGS busy season continues with further involvement in competitions and matches both played in great golfing conditions and venues.

A team of four members competed in the Newson Smith Cup 12 team multi-livery event played at the Drift GC at East Horsley in Surrey. Competition was intense with only three points separating the top four teams including the WIGS contingent.

The format of this event also allows individuals to star on the day and Ian Jerrum finished his day with a couple bottles of wine for his performance on the day.

This was closely followed by our match at Beaconsfield GC against the Actuaries Livery Company – an event that has quickly established itself as one of the most keenly contested. This year proved no exception with the outcome not known until the final four ball team returned with the Actuarial team prevailing and winning back possession of the quaich donated to record the winners.

• The passing of Derek Biggs was marked by members. Derek was Captain of WIGS (1999), President (2000) and awarded Honorary Membership status (2011) for his work in setting up the Worshipful Company of Insurers Golf Society in 1996, along with Muir Stratford and others. Our condolences go to his wife Carole and his family.

 

August 2023: The WIGS Captain’s Golf Day in July was a notable success with 24 members taking part at Flempton, a quintessential English golf club in the heart of the Suffolk countryside.

The event was hosted by Bob Beckett and blessed with some fine weather. Following an excellent lunch the participants set out on a challenging course for the 4BBB afternoon competition.

The winners were BIll Bower and his playing partner Graham Jackson with 45 points, closely followed by Messrs Jerrum and Thomson on 43 points who edged out Messrs Sales and Thomas on count back with the same points tally.

Other winners were Mike O’Conner with the best individual score of 42 points and Steve Parlett and Alison Wood for their respective nearest the pin shots.

This event was closely followed by the resumption of a match with the Lutine Society last played in 2018. Beaconsfield GC was the venue and some very close and good golf was played by both teams on yet another well set up course. A 2-2 scoreline meant both societies went home equally happy or disappointed with their efforts.

September 2023 Without doubt one fixture held in great affection with members is the annual match against the Insurance Golf Society played at Worplesdon GC .

This year was no different with 16 participants from both societies engaged in 18 holes of 4BBB golf in glorious sunshine in the heart of Surrey. Some excellent golf was played by both sides the eventual outcome was delayed until the completion of the final match with honours being shared. This was a big improvement by the WIGS team on last year’s performance but not quite enough to secure the John Phillips trophy which is retained by IGS .

Our other long standing fixture against Lloyd’s GS at West Sussex GC regrettably did not provide the same close outcome with the home side taking the honours convincingly.

Unfortunately, the team entered for the inaugural Financial Services Group cup competition at Royal Blackheath GC organised by the International Bankers Livery Company were disappointed as the event was cancelled by the organiser late on due to lack of support - a reflection perhaps of the parlous state of livery golf at present.

October 2023 WIGS 2023 golf season finished on a very successful note when the Insurers team of Ian Jerrum (Captain on the day), Mike O’Conner, David Martin and Charles Thomson won this year’s Distillers Livery Company’s golf competition at Tandridge GC.

Competing against teams from a total of nine livery companies in less than perfect weather conditions they secured victory by the narrowest of margins in the Stapleford competition to win the painting of Tandridge’s Golf clubhouse which was presented by the former Distillers Master (Chris Porter) and organiser of the event. David Martin’s individual score of 38 points was the stand out performance on the day.

To add to their celebration each member of the team was also presented with a bottle of a fine limited edition 40th anniversary single malt whisky.