Cheshire’s police officers go the extra mile for former Ryder Cup captain

.

PC Mike Dawber said “The youths had not been causing Crime or Anti-social behaviour but their presence in the area was understandably causing upset for families and friends visiting the graveyard. Whilst leaving the graveyard, we noticed the untended grave of George Duncan former British Open Golf Champion. I’ve seen pretty much everything in my Policing career but seeing George Duncan’s untended overgrown grave did give me cause for thought. I am a keen golfer myself and good friends with European Tour Golf Professional Richard Finch. I thought it was quite sad to see the untended grave. It did stay with me for a few days afterwards and I was quite taken a back when I researched George Duncan’s life on the internet. George Duncan was not only the 1920 Open Champion but also three time Ryder Cup player and Ryder Cup captain. He was also the son of a village Policeman! I thought I have to do something especially as it is a Ryder Cup year.”

PC Dawber and PC Holt, who has a keen interest in local history, returned to St Mary’s Church and approached Reverend Philip Robinson to enquire whether George Duncan had any family and if there would be any objection to tidying up his grave. Reverend Robinson said that he did not believe George had any surviving family and he would welcome any voluntary efforts and assistance to tend to his grave.

Therefore, PC Dawber and PC Holt attended on rest days and outside of duty time on weekends, on several occasions equipped with gardening tools, cleaning items and decorative gravel to tend to George Duncan’s final resting place.

George Duncan was born the son of a village Policeman on 16th September 1883 in Methlick, Aberdeenshire.  Duncan was the first post World War 1 winner of The Open Championship in 1920 at Royal Cinque Ports, Kent.

He played for Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1927, 1929 and 1931.
He was playing captain in 1929 when GB won at Moortown Golf Club, Leeds.

George Duncan was well known for his fast pace of play, he would simply walk to his ball, immediately drop his limbs into his stance, and hit the ball. If he ever studied the line and shape of his shot, he had done it before he reached his ball, for there was no pause when he got to the ball. As for practice swings, he regarded them as totally unnecessary and barely legal, close to practising on the course.

George Duncan was the golf professional at Mere Golf and Country Club between 1934 and 1962. The wedding suite is still named after him at Mere Golf and Spa resort, Knutsford.

Joe Gates, who is Director of Golf at The Mere Golf Resort and Spa said “George Duncan forms an integral part of the history of The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, and we were delighted to hear of the work that Mike and Roger have been putting in to restore his final resting place, to befit such a true legend of the game of golf. Nobody should forget how much George achieved in his lifetime, and the work that has been done, will enable his legend to continue”.

George Duncan passed away on 15th January 1964, aged 80 years and he was laid to rest at St Mary’s Church, Rostherne, Knutsford close to Mere Golf Club.

Reverend Philip Robinson of St Mary’s Church said “When PC Dawber and PC Holt asked permission to tidy the grave of the notable golfer George Duncan, I was delighted, and they have done a magnificent job. It would be wonderful if more people would come forward and do something similar. In the meantime, I would like to thank our local Police Officers for their initiative in tidying this particular grave.”

PC Mike Dawber said “Community Policing does have similar responsibilities and values to the Ryder Cup – honesty, integrity, respect, adhering to the laws or rules, and above all doing the right thing. I believe that this was the right thing to do.”

The 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley said “”It′s lovely to hear this heart-warming story in my year as Ryder Cup Captain and think these two officers should be commended for their actions in tending to George′s grave. Let′s hope I can emulate his Ryder Cup victory at Moortown and be victorious at Gleneagles in September”.

PC Mike Dawber and PC Roger Holt are part of the Knutsford Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team, at Knutsford Police Station, Toft Road, Knutsford Tel 101. www.cheshire.police.uk