An extremely successful and enjoyable 2 days of golf took place on 5 – 6 June 2025 at Upavon Golf Club, where the DERR Golf Society (The Farmers Boys) held their annual 2 day summer meeting. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural match against the Rifles we played them again on Thursday 4 June, for a newly commissioned trophy – “The Turner VC Bowl”. We wanted to identify a suitable “Golden Thread” and with the help of Martin McIntyre we identified the Turner brothers, one of only 2 pairs of brothers to  be awarded the Victoria Cross

:

• Lieutenant Alexander Buller Turner VC, The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s).  Killed in action in 1915.  Awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Loos in 1915, he died of his wounds on 1 October 1915.

• Major (temporary Lieutenant Colonel) Victor Buller Turner VC, The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own).  Awarded the Victoria Cross leading his battalion in the Western Desert at the Second Battle of El Alamein on 27 October 1942.

Lt Col John Marsh presents the Gilson Trophy to Kev Flay

Many thanks to Steve McIntyre for organising the production of the trophy and to Brian Eley for producing a marvellous engraved glass bowl, mounted on a wooden plinth for us to present to the winning team on 4 June and to be played for in subsequent years.  A close fought match saw the DERR team of John Marsh, Arthur Christian, Steven McIntyre, Ron Cooke, Andy Fontana, Dave Gardner, Bob Owens and Andy Taylor emerge as the winners, beating The Rifles 6 - 2.  The Turner VC Bowl will be held at The Wardrobe until next year’s match.

The competition for the Regimental Trophies was held on Friday 5 June.  Many thanks to Norman Minty for liaising with the Club and negotiating a very competitive rate, to Andy Fontana for organising the prizes and, again, to Brian Eley for so generously adding an extra plinth and metal band to the Gilson Bowl.  Noting that the “can only win 1 major trophy” rule applies, prizes were won as follows:

·         Medal Nett:

o   1st - The Gilson Bowl and Champion Golfer – Paul McLeod

o   2nd - The Gamble Cup – John Marsh

o   3rd – Andy Fontana

·         Medal Gross:

o   1st - The Gilson Trophy – Kev Flay

o   2nd - The Bone Beaker – Andy Fontana

o   3rd – John Marsh

·         Stableford Singles:

o   1st (19.9 handicap and below) – The James Cup – Peter North

o   2nd (19.9 handicap and below) – The Shorncliffe Cup – Ron Cooke

o   3rd (19.9 handicap and below) – Farren Drury

o   1st (20 handicap and above) – The Education Cup – Norman Minty

o   2nd (20 handicap and above) – Tony Flay

o   3rd (20 handicap and above) – Arthur Christian

·         Nearest the Pin in 2 (11^th) – Kev Flay

·         Nearest the Pin (18^th) – Danny Cox

·         2s, the only one for £32 – Tony Fisher

A reminder of dates for this year’s remaining fixture - detailed admin instructions will be sent out around 6 - 8 weeks before but please put the dates in your diaries now:

• 10 Sep 26 - Autumn meeting - Wrag Barn, near Swindon

• 5 Oct 26 - Rifles Regimental meeting - South Winchester

• and next year’s summer meeting and match against The Rifles on 10/11 June 2027, location TBC

Editor’s note - Have the Slashers hung up, or sold their clubs, or is Golf still being played by any old Glosters?

The Gilson Bowl winner for the best net score and Champion Golfer 2026 - Lt Col Paul McLeod