TURF LIFE
. . a view from the dug-out
VERY sad news to hear that Gordon Prosser, former head groundsman of Worcestershire, Lancashire and Somerset cricket clubs, has died at the age of 82. Gordon was Worcester CCC's head groundsman from 1970 to 1976 and during his time at New Road won the county groundsman of the year title three times in four years, reported the Worcester News. He then went on to look after the surfaces at Old Trafford until 1979, before moving onto Taunton where he stayed in charge until 1989. After his retirement he also spent a short time caring for the pitch at Yeovil FC. Former Worcestershire secretary, Mike Vockins, told the local paper, “Gordon was a splendid and highly-regarded groundsman, very much a man of the soil, with a great understanding of nature."
CONGRATULATIONS Melvyn Langford, the head groundsman at Downing College, Cambridge, who is retiring after 50 years loyal service. One of the last of the old guard of groundsmen trained at Cambridge University’s Fenner’s Cricket Ground, Melvyn is retiring after 15 years there and 35 at Downing, reports the Cambridge News. Apparently one unusual problem Melvyn had to contend with during his tenure was the occasional helicopter landing on one of his perfectly manicured surfaces - both from neighbouring Addenbrooke as well as sometimes celebrities. He said, "I remember Michael Winner landing his helicopter on my field. I was not pleased and to make matters worse I had to act as security for his helicopter!"
 WALMERSLEY Golf Course greenkeeper Brett Hannah, was confused and slightly freaked out to find a Thai 'spice girl' statue standing eerily on one of his greens recently. It turns out it had been stolen the previous week from a local restaurant and when the theft had been publicised in the local Bury Times paper, the master criminal who had absconded with it (presumably after an evening on the Singhas) must have felt some remorse and looked for somewhere quiet to dump it. Brett was quoted as saying "It was a bit creepy, to be honest. There was no one around and I saw this strange object next to the flag on the green." Brett returned the statue to its rightful owner and was rewarded with a meal for him and his wife.
AND finally, can anyone else see a Werewolf in this picture?!
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