Golfers raise £60,000 for Chiltern Centre in decade

THE Chiltern Centre’s 15th annual charity golf day raised £3,000.

This brings the total raised by the event over the last 10 years to more than £60,000.

The occasion marked 20 years since the Henley charity, which looks after young adults with disabilities at the centre in Chilterns End Close, took over from Oxfordshire County Council to prevent it closing.

It hopes to move to new premises on the Highlands Park development in 2027.

Forty-eight people took part in the event, which was held at Badgemore Park Golf Club in Henley. They played in 12 teams of men, women and mixed.

Ivor Lloyd, chairman of trustees, said: “This is one of the many fund-
raising events we do because we have to raise £200,000 per year just to keep the doors open.

“We have had great support from our donors and there is a lot of support from businesses around Henley.

“We currently look after 26 families — the maximum — and we have got 20 waiting.

“We are hoping to relocate but it will probably be 2027 when we open. That is so important to us as we will hopefully be able to increase capacity. We are serving families from all around the area.”

Helen Morton, whose son Christopher has Down’s syndrome and uses the centre, helps raise money for the charity.

She said: “Christopher is 38 and has been using the Chiltern Centre since it started. My daughter Pippa also works there occasionally as a support worker. The Chiltern Centre has been a big part of our lives and it was absolutely wonderful when Christopher was younger but even now they still provide activities for the over-30s.

“It has given Christopher many enjoyable moments and it keeps him in touch with all his friends.

“When he was young he had many birthday parties there and he still goes on various outings.

“For me it meant I could organise things for him and his friends without being at home so there was general support provided and that has continued from the age of five to now. Chilterns has always been there for him.”

Mrs Morton helped run the raffle at the golf day, which started at noon as the teams teeed off with staggered starts. The golf was followed by a barbecue supper in the clubhouse where the winners of the raffle, silent auction and live auction were announced.

The prizes included a tour for six of Hundred Hills vineyard, an overnight stay and dinner at Hurley House Hotel, Henley Festival tickets, FA Cup final tickets and four balls at Temple, Castle Royle, Royal Ascot, Springs and Hennerton golf clubs.

Mr Lloyd presented awards to the winners of the golf.

The winning men’s team were Bertie Jarvis, James Black, Charlie Steedman and Jack Evan.

The winning women’s team were Janie Kebbell, Lesley Roberts, Annette Bacon and Muriel Quinsac and the winning mixed team comprised Jerry and Ruth Luckett and John and Clare Dowty. Organiser and fundraiser Emma Lerche-Thomsen said: “On behalf of all our disabled young adults and their families, thank you. This money will go towards items they need and trips out for them to enjoy.”

She thanked Mr Lloyd, trustee David Haddock, Mrs Morton, the golf clubs, and the Lumley Group, which sponsored the day, as well as other businesses including the Henley Florist, Laurence Menswear, the Henley Distillery, Henley Festival, La Medusa hair studio, Hobbs of Henley, Hurley House Hotel, Hundred Hills Vineyard, the Pavilion delicatessen, the Relais Henley, Temptation, Tesco and Towergate Insurance.

The charity’s fundraising for this year will culminate with a ball in the autumn.