ESVGA Life Members

Bob Saunders (Dec.)
Bob Saunders was the founder of the ESVGA. He set up the steering committee to establish the ESVGA in November 1984 and was elected inaugural President one month later when the association was formed. He then went on to serve as President until the end of 1988 when he retired and was granted honorary life membership. Without his work the ESVGA as we know it may not have existed.

Bob Williams (Dec.)
Bob Williams was a founding member of the ESVGA and was elected Vice President at the inaugural meeting in December 1984. He continued to serve as Vice President until the end of 1988 when he was elected as President. He continued in this role until the end of 1993. In 1996 he was made an honorary life member.

Eric Davey (Dec.)
Eric Davey was a founding member of the ESVGA. He served as both Secretary and Treasurer from December 1984 until 1988. He then went on to serve a further five years as Secretary until the end of 1993. He was made an honorary life member in 1996.

John Flewellen (Dec.)
John Flewellen joined the committee of the ESVGA at the inaugural meeting in December 1984 and served as a committee member until the end of 1988. From 1989 until the end of 1994 he served as Treasurer and then for two years as Vice President until the end of 1996. He was made an honorary life member in 1997.

Ted Baker (Dec.)
Ted Baker joined the committee of the ESVGA in 1988 and served on the committee until 1993. He then went on to serve as President for five years until the end of 1998. Upon his retirement as President he was made an honorary life member.

Arnold Nuske (Dec.)
Arnold Nuske joined the committee of the ESVGA in 2000 and served for a year before becoming Vice President for seven years until the end of 2007. He was awarded honorary life membership at the end of 2007.

Jack Melki (Dec.)
Jack Melki joined the committee of the ESVGA in 1994 and served on the committee for five years. In 1999 he was elected President and went on to serve five years in that position until the end of 2003. Upon his retirement as President he was made an honorary life member.

Tom Tarrant
Tom Tarrant joined the committee of the ESVGA in 2000 and served on the committee for nine years. In 2009 he was elected President and went on to serve a further seven years in that position until his retirement at the end of 2015. He then continued to serve on the committee in 2016. His overall years of service on the committee are greater than any other member of the ESVGA. He was awarded honorary life membership in 2015.

Dave Rogers
Dave Rogers joined the ESVGA in 2000 and was awarded honorary life membership in 2016. In 2003 Dave was elected to committee and served for 11 years until his retirement at the end of 2013.  In 2003 Dave took over the role as secretary and served for 9 years in that position. He carried out those duties in a quiet and efficient manner according to Tom Tarrant. Tom presented Dave with his honorary life membership having served with Dave during those years.

Keith Schofield
Keith joined the ESVGA in March 1998 and served on the committee from 2000 to 2008, becoming President in 2004 until he retired in 2008. Keith performed this role in a professional manner and was a charismatic president whose post game presentations entertained the members with his often amusing remarks. Keith has acted as the associations Auditor from 2009 until the present time. He has given his time freely to the task which has saved the association considerably during that period, for which we thank him. Keith was awarded an honorary life membership of the ESVGA at the 2018 A.G.M..

Rod Coling
Rod Joined the ESVGA in June 2005. He was elected to the ESVGA Committee in 2009 where he immediately accepted the position of Treasurer holding that position from 2009 to 2017 inclusive and is the longest serving Treasurer. Rod was a tireless worker and thorough organiser of the ESVGA Finances. He strongly supported the ESVGA’s move into the “Digital Age” and initiated the introduction of Direct Debit payments for members which effectively reduced the amount of time spent with cash transactions and visits to the local bank. In conjunction with the Secretary at that time, greatly simplified the organisation of the ESVGA Annual Raffle. At the 2018 Annual General Meeting, Rod Coling had life membership bestowed on him for services to the ESVGA.

Barry Smith
Barry Smith was nominated for Life Membership of the ESVGA at the Annual General Meeting held on 4th January 2021. Barry joined the ESVGA in January 2005 and the committee in 2009, serving as Vice President since 2015 to this current day. (30/11/2020). He’s been a tireless worker in many areas during his time on committee. Barry’s been responsible for the player organisation on game days, setting tees times, controlling the playing groups, communicating with the host clubs, all to ensure a smooth game day. Along with the transmitting of the draw to the members prior to game day, he’s also been the ESVGA newsletter author.

Life Members get together after the April 2024 Eastwood game. From Left to Right Dave Rogers, Tom Tarrant, Rod Coling & Barry Smith.

Ron Hottes
Ron Hottes was nominated for Life Membership of the ESVGA at the Annual General Meeting held on 4th December 2023. Ron joined the ESVGA in December 2009. He joined the committee in November 2015, serving as President from November 2016, serving for 7 years till retiring at the 2023 AGM on 4th December 2023. Ron needs to travel significant distances to attend either committee meetings or play on the ESVGA game day, yet with punctuality his strength, he can be seen ready to receive players as they come to register on game day, which usually means attending by 6.45 am for 8.00 am teeing-off. An amiable character, Ron, who has been recommended for ESVGA life membership, has been influential in supporting the progress that has been made during his tenure as president, while the after game presentation is always highlighted by Rons ‘joke of the month’.