Happy New Year - and welcome to golf in 2004

Some of you will be aware that there was a major fire at the Pavilion Cafe this morning which has largely destroyed the old wooden structure. It is believed that the fire was caused by an electrical fault occurring in the roof area.

The fire did not reach the pro-shop, but the interior of the shop has been affected by smoke. The shop is not presently serviceable because of a lack of electricity supply, but it is hoped that power will be restored either later today or tomorrow.

Both the golf courses are open and it will be golf as usual this Sunday for the first monthly medal of the year. For those that are attending please proceed to the pro-shop where we will have a check-in point either in the shop or in one of the shop's offices. I do not expect any catering services to be available this Sunday so you may wish to consider bringing flasks of tea, coffee or whatever. For the ladies, there may well be a lack of loo facilities.

It is inevitable that the consequences of the fire at the Park will mean a degree of disruption to our Sunday morning check-in procedures for many months ahead. We have endured previous periods of disruption, therefore I am sure that we will be able to establish a routine to overcome the present difficulty.

I regret that my first message of 2004 is not of a happier note - let's hope that we have some brighter news to follow.

Peter Harrington
Secretary
2^nd January 2004

Press Coverage

Press coverage of the fire is pretty widespread in local and regional publications:

• Wandsworth Guardian
• Richmond Informer – Front page splash, photo by an Andy Lynn
• Richmond & Twickenham times and others – Front page – photo David Marsh & article
• Surrey Comet – Different David Marsh picture & article
• Wandsworth Borough News –Inside, similar to Surrey Comet