Together Again – For The Best Of Reasons

Annual Gathering Lifts Spirits

Ready for tee-off……from left: Dave Jones, Mel Eves, Steve Bull, the Wolves FPA’s Richard Green, Colin Brazier, Mark Grew, Kenny Hibbitt, Steve Daley, Norman Bell, Joe Mayo, Micky Fudge, David Ashman (son of late Albion manager Alan Ashman) and John Richards.

When they weren’t actually out paying their respects, they were receiving too many phone calls from John Richards telling them of the loss of former colleagues.

The year started with the loss of Terry Wharton and has continued in recent weeks with the passing-away, in awfully quick succession, of Fred Kemp, John Farley, Phil Parkes, Mike Bailey and Hugh Curran.

It has been a nightmare 2026 in many ways for the wider Wolves community.

Against that depressing backcloth, it was lovely for almost a dozen Wolves favourites to be meeting up again in these early days of September for something other than the saddest of reasons.

Up to two years ago, the annual golf day at Oxley Park was the stage on which Terry and Phil paired up to provide non-stop amusement for anyone in earshot. The routine went something like this: One of them would emerge from their shared buggy to hit a shot and immediately aim a barb or two at the other, usually on the grounds of incorrect advice over club selection or the best line. They would then motor not too far down the fairway for more of the same.

The most popular point at the ever-impressive Oxley Park on Wolves FPA golf day…..Express & Star fan-writer John Lalley (far right) joins (from left) Paul Walker, Gerry Farrell, Mel Eves and Norman Bell at the ‘refuelling’ stop.

Lofty’s funeral, almost six months on from that of the playing partner he called ‘Dad’, was still very much in the minds of those who convened this time for a happy event that always seems to be blessed with good weather.

Close pals Paul Walker and Gerry Farrell had actually chosen to stay in Wolverhampton for three nights to cut down on travelling to and from Leeds and Morecambe respectively while the third member of this close northern circle, Norman Bell, did the opposite and came down by train for the day from home near Blackburn.

Two days on from being together in St Peter’s Church, the trio were in their usual role, in charge of the well-visited on-course refreshment kiosk.

From Paul came the disclosure that he had recenly had a meet-up with Mike O’Grady – a few weeks short of the former England international’s 84th birthday.

Also on hand to help were Steve Daley and Mel Eves while John Richards decided that organisational duties should take precedence over playing.

Steve Bull poised for action, watched by Don Goodman, Dave Jones and Johnny Phillips.

Actually in action on the course were Colin Brazier and Kenny Hibbitt, in one four-man team, and another all-Wolves quartet of Steve Bull, Don Goodman, Dave Jones and Sky Sports’ Johnny Phillips.

Former Albion trio Joe Mayo, Mark Grew and Micky Fudge also lined up in the 18-team field on an afteroon on which an estimated £8,000 was raised for charity.

That’s something else that would have pleased Lofty and the others….

*For the pictures accompanying this article, we thank tje Wolves FPA and our good friend, Dave Bagnall, the former Express & Star photographer who names this annual assignment as the most enjoyable on his calendar.