Personalities from the Past

The first President of the Club was Sir William Henry Hornby, who was known as Harry. He was the fourth son of W. H. Hornby, Senior, whose statue stands in the centre of Blackburn and who was M.P. for the town for 12 years and the town's first ever Mayor in 1851, known affectionately as "Th'Owd Game Cock". After a spell at Preston Grammar School, Harry joined the Royal Navy at the age of 12 and served as a naval cadet in the Crimean War a year later. On leaving the Navy, he became involved in the family Brookhouse Mills cotton spinning business, one of Blackburn's largest cotton mills, employing over 1200 people and eventually took over from his father as principal. He was a joint founder of the East Lancs. Cricket Club and its first Captain. In 1876, he became the Mayor of Blackburn, an honour conferred on him for a second time in 1901. He was persuaded to stand for parliament in 1886, when he was elected unopposed as the M.P. for Blackburn, which he represented for a continuous period of 24 years in the House of Commons "without ever catching the Speaker's eye!"

He married in 1887 and lived at Pleasington Hall. He was a J.P., deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, a Freeman of the Borough of Blackburn and was created a Baronet in 1899. Sir Harry's sturdy, well-made figure, urbane and somewhat old-fashioned in appearance, with its distinctive monocle and side whiskers, was a familiar and well loved figure in Blackburn's streets. It is not surprising therefore that such a prominent local citizen living in Pleasington should have been invited to become the Club's first President in 1894. He continued to hold the office until 1919, when at the age of 78, he decided to stand down. He died in 1928.

The first Lady President of the Club was Miss Eileen Shutt. She was a member of the Club for over 50 years and over a long period was one of Lancashire's most prominent women golfers. She was Lady Captain in 1935 and Treasurer from 1939 to 1946 and Secretary from 1946 to 1948. She became the first Lady President of the Club, when that office was created in 1956 - a position she held until her death at the age of 68 in 1972. She was county captain of Lancashire Ladies' County Golfing Association in 1956 and a Vice-President of the Association for a number of years. She also served with distinction as Chairman of the Ladies' Golfing Union from 1963 to 1965. Miss Shutt's nieces are well known Pleasington golfers, Julia Greenhalgh, Angela Caton and Louise Jones.

Edward Crompton Jones, affectionately known as "Teddy" was responsible for guiding the club in more recent years. He joined the Club on reaching the junior age limit of 10 in 1924. His grandfather, Isaac Crompton, was a founder member, who became Captain in 1906 and served as Honorary Treasurer from 1904 to 1914. His father, E. Gwynne Jones, was also Captain in 1927, who went on to serve for ten years as Honorary Secretary, followed by a further period of 15 years on Council in various capacities until 1950, when he was made a life member.

Teddy was an excellent golfer, winning the Wilpshire Trophy in 1933 at the age of 19. His name features on several of the trophy boards in the clubhouse on more than one occasion. He was elected Captain in 1953 and was followed by his wife, Elsie, who was Lady Captain the next year. "Teddy" served on Council for many years, including a lengthy spell as Green Chairman. He was President of the East Lancs. Golf Association from 1967 to 1969 and was honoured by the Club in the same way as his father by being elected a life member in 1969.

When "Bertie" Birtwistle retired in 1974, he was succeeded as President by "Teddy", who held the office with great distinction until ill health sadly obliged him to stand down in 1988. To mark his period in office, the Club installed a large clock on one of the gables, looking down the 18th fairway, which unfortunately he did not live to see in place before his death in September 1988. In addition to his tremendous contribution to golf at Pleasington, he was for many years an active member of the Lancashire Golf Union Executive and was appointed a Vice-President in 1986.

Personalities from the Past

Past Presidents

Past Lady Presidents

Past Captains

Past Lady Captains