My name is Darren Richards from Tredegar and I helped to arrange a Charity Golf Day on Saturday 12th September 2020 as we do every year in honour of our beloved friend Matt Sandercock.  This year we also wanted to dedicate it to three other special people, my good friend Darren Snell and the late Great Neil “Robbo” Robinson and his lovely wife Diane, who all sadly lost their respective battles with cancer this year and last.

Sadly due to COVID-19 we weren’t able to give Neil and Darren the send offs they deserved so we wanted to choose a special way to honour them.

The day included 18 hole doubles “Ryder Cup” style competition between the “Oldies” and the “Youngies.”  Neil and Matt have both been Captains of their respective teams in the past.  Neil being last year’s winning Captain for the Oldies.

This day had 64 golfers booked in to play at Wernddu Golf Club, Abergavenny and included a competition on the 18th hole par 3, henceforth to be named “Robbo’s nearest the pin.”  After the day we enjoyed a celebration at the Rhyd Hall, Tredegar, however, due to Covid restrictions we couldn’t accommodate the numbers expected to ensure everyone was safe.  We did, however, still manage to hold a “Robbo’s Raffle and Auction” which certainly boosted the fundraising total.

We were delighted that all proceeds from the Golf Event and Raffle went to the Hospice of the Valleys Charity who looked after all of the above special people who we love and miss dearly.  In total we raised £6,100 so a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part or supported in some way.

At this time the Hospice is needed more than ever with their teams trying to support the most vulnerable people in our communities through Covid, I would urge anyone to support this fantastic local charity.