A Trophy with a Story: Remembering Bob Johnson
In 2012, the Handicap Chairman at the time, Mike Cook, suggested that, as we have a Winter Handicap Trophy, why don’t we have a Summer Handicap Trophy, but have it as a mid-week comp. This was taken up by the committee but has since been changed to a single round competition held on a week-end.
Many years ago, in the late nineties, Vinny Marcroft had a carpet fitter at his house. When he saw the picture of Heaton Park Golf course on his wall he said:
“That’s the 16th hole at Heaton Park golf course. (Which it was at the time)
My dads ashes are scattered on that green”
Vinny asked him who his dad was and he said Bob Johnson, the former PGA Professional at Heaton Park. He was the pro when Vinny first started playing there in 1971. He was very popular with the members and was especially friendly with Fred and Florence Lewis. Fred was a great stalwart of the club and a past Captain.
Fred and Florence used to look after Bobs’ son, Stuart in the school holidays and take him out in the car on many occasions. It was Stuart who had come to measure up for the new carpet.
In the year of the clubs’ centenary 2012, Vinny went to see Stuart and asked him if he would be prepared to make a contribution to the celebrations. He very generously offered to purchase and donate a trophy to the club as long as it bore his dads’ name. This fitted in very nicely with Mikes’ idea for the Summer Handicap Trophy, and so the Bob Johnson Trophy entered the clubs’ fixture list. But sadly, Fred Lewis didn’t get to see this, as he passed away in September 2012.
At the Annual Prize Presentation in 2012, Stuart attended with his family and formally presented the Bob Johnson Summer Handicap Trophy to the club. It was a really good afternoon/evening which Stuart enjoyed immensely, along with his two sisters and their families.
Sadly, Stuart passed away in 2025. Vinny went to his funeral as a representative of the club.