Long-serving George rewarded for loyalty (From Gazette & Herald)

Long-serving George rewarded for loyalty

Green-keeper George Lealman has been honoured for 25 years service at Malton and Norton Golf Club.

George, 64, received a gold watch at the club's AGM recently.

Club secretary Eddie Harrison said: "He has been a very loyal servant and great supporter of the club over the last 25 years. As well as being involved with a lot of the development at the club, he has always been very interested in the club's social events.

"He is very friendly with the members and is often seen chatting with them on the course."

George said he had enjoyed seeing the course improve since he began his job back in 1977.

"Some of the comments we receive from visitors about the course have been brilliant, which is very rewarding. It's been a lot of hard work but I've got a lot of satisfaction from it."

George added that the improvement in machinery had made his job less strenuous.

"We used to cut the tees by hand but now we have two machines to do it."

The profile of the club has risen considerably during George's career. Membership has risen sharply and the course was extended to 27 holes in the mid-nineties. The success of Simon Dyson and Emma Duggleby has also propelled the club into the limelight.

George, with a handicap of 23, is a regular player of the course himself.

In his earlier days, he was well-known on the Ryedale sporting scene. He played football for Norton, Rillington and Malton Bacon Factory, and cricket for West Heslerton, Malton, Old Malton and Pickering.

Updated: 10:38 Thursday, April 18, 2002