Westbury golf captain raises thousands for Guide Dogs for the Blind

The former club captain at a local golf club has raised £7,850 for the Westbury and Warminster branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. 

Westbury resident Stewart Findlay, who was captain at Erlestoke Golf Club in the 2024/25 season, helped raise the funds for Guide Dogs as part of his captain’s charity for the year. 

A cheque presentation was held on Saturday 29th March at Erlestoke Golf Club to mark the achievement. Stewart posed for photos with Hilary Reed, the local branch coordinator for Guide Dogs who lives in Westbury with her puppy, Elsie. 

Stewart said, “One of my key responsibilities this year has been to raise funds for my chosen charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind. I have been deeply touched by the generosity of our club members, the owners, and all who contributed to our fundraising efforts. 

“Throughout the year, we featured a yellow guide dog and her two puppies in the clubhouse, providing a delightful focal point for our fundraising efforts. Many times, my fellow charity treasurer and I had the pleasure of emptying the donation box, which consistently held wonderful surprises as we counted our fantastic contributions. 

“I hope my efforts have alleviated some of the pressure on Hilary Reed, who has tirelessly dedicated her time and energy over the years to raise funds for this important cause. Hilary is a true patron of this charity, embodying dedication and love.” 

The £7,850 raised enabled the golf club to name three guide dogs, who will now be trained using the funds. 

A raffle was held to choose the names for the dogs, and Hilary drew envelopes from the various entries. The first winner was Hayne and Smith, an optician in Westbury, who had put forward the name ‘Dougie’. The second winner was Tracy Findlay, who had chosen the name ‘Oscar’. The third name drawn was ‘Dorothy’, entered in tribute to the late fundraiser Dorothy Renfrew, who was welfare officer at the golf club. 

In a speech ahead of the cheque presentation, Stewart thanked Aiden and Linda Bell, owners of Erlestoke Golf Club, as well as everyone who donated to his cause – especially residents at Fountain Court in Westbury where he lives, who contributed £200 in total. 

He added, “I want to express my profound gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this cause and made this year so memorable. Thank you for your unwavering support, and let’s continue to work together to make a positive impact in our community.” 

Hilary Reed, of the Westbury and Warminster branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said, “Stewart has done a fabulous job raising so much money and has been a great asset to the golf club, but also to Guide Dogs! Our local branch is extremely grateful for his hard work and determination.”