The 2022 RGS Foundation Charity Golf Day, sponsored by Devine Homes, was another fabulous event, raising an incredible £7,985 for the Nightingale Fund and we thank our 60 golfers, sponsors and prize donors for their generous support.

Players enjoyed a beautiful day at Reigate Hill Golf Club and our thanks go to Barry Devine (‘90) for his ongoing sponsorship of this event.

After buying mulligans, raffle tickets and selecting their ‘silly strings’ (varying lengths of string that can be used as a shot on the green), teams headed off to the first tee.

On the eighth hole, sponsored by FLM, players inched their way towards the Nearest-the-Pin trophy. Ben Rutland, RGS’s Head of Golf, set an early target to beat, but was pipped to the post by Jordan Keates (friend of the school)!

At the ninth hole, players eagerly cooled down with a cold beer and a snack at our refreshments stop.

Early in the competition, England T20 international cricketer, John Simpson, set the target for the Longest Drive on the 14th. Thanks go to Ed Forsyth (’08) and Harry Vaughan (’09) from wealth management company, FLM for sponsoring the competition.

With everyone back and enjoying a drink and dinner outside on the clubhouse veranda, players were eager to find out who had won.

Jonny Hylton, (RGS ‘99) RGS Foundation Associate Director, began the prize giving by thanking everyone for attending the day and supporting our fundraising efforts so enthusiastically! He talked about our commitment to supporting families facing unimaginable challenges through current and future emergency appeals. As such, we are pleased to be providing a bursary place at RGS to a Ukrainian refugee.

He also emphasised the impact that the Nightingale Fund has had to date, sharing the news that the daughter of a paramedic, who sadly died at the start of the pandemic, will be joining RGS this September.

The prizegiving followed and, in a slight change of format, we took the best three scores from each team this year. It proved tight at the top, with just one and two points between the first, second and third teams! But with an incredible score of 134 points, trophies were presented to Matt Hill (current parent), Phil Ellis (current parent), Jez Hippolite (current parent) and Kevin McNair (friend).

With trophies awarded, it was time for the raffle with winners choosing from a great selection of prizes, including dinner for four at The Plough Inn at Coldharbour, a mid-week four-ball at Reigate Hill, a Love Reigate membership, Silent Pool Gin and glasses, a bottle of Dumangin Champagne, a haircut and gift bag thanks to Dexter’s Barber Shop, and a copy of Lap of Honour, a beautiful book about Stirling Moss, by current parent, Tim Hain.

Jonny Hylton, (RGS ‘99) RGS Foundation Associate Director whipped up excitement to secure donations for the three auction prizes, which included: a flying lesson with Pilot Flight Training thanks to Tom Saunders (’98), a course of physiotherapy sessions with Matt Wilkinson (’07) at Six Physio and four tickets to see comedian, Joe Lycett, at Wembley Park thanks to Kerry Patterson (’04).

With trophies awarded and prizes distributed, it was time to wrap things up… until next time (save the date: Thursday 15 June 2023)!

A huge thank you to all those who so generously supported this fabulous fundraising event.

Three of the winning player’s receiving their trophies from Associate Director, Jonny Hylton

The RGS Professionals Golf Day is on Monday 26 September at the magnificent Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club – email foundation@www.rgs.foundation to register your interest.