Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs

Ted is ready for the County Challenge

CHESHIRE Union of Golf Clubs’ new President Ted Leather (pictured) was born in Widnes in 1937, one of five siblings, son of a dairy Farmer and his wife (the daughter of a Doctor & Surgeon), educated at the local primary school during the war years and thereafter at private school – Belmont Abbey in Hereford – a once in a lifetime experience.

He started work in 1954 in the Research & Development Dept. of Peter Spence & Sons Ltd. (later Laporte Industries Ltd) in Widnes and in 1960 moved to J.Crosfield & Sons in Warrington (a Unilever Co.) still working in R & D.

Ted Leather

President CUGC 2008

A brief (15 month) spell with the Guinness Peat Group and it was time for some dramatic changes. January 1^st 1974 (a significant date for the nation – the start of the miners’ strike!) saw the emergence of Trafford Chemicals Ltd. - a trading company specialising in the marketing of Industrial Chemicals derived from the wood pulp manufacturing industry and which were not manufactured in the UK.

This proved to be a most interesting and successful venture, which included diversification into other specialist areas. There followed the introduction of production facilities to meet specific requirements in a variety of industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals and the building industry and the company was growing in strength and recognition.

In 1988 the business was sold to Borregaard of Norway (a member of the Orkla Group) and in 1991 Ted parted company with the company.

A complete change of direction saw him doing a three-year horticultural course at Reaseheath College with the original intention of developing a commercial growing business.

Fine ideas, but realism proved to be the sensible option in a highly competitive business, and growing speciality trees and shrubs for personal and ecological reasons was the result - something in which he is still very much interested.

Ted married Margaret in 1962 and relocated in Grappenhall, Warrington, then a Lancashire town, but divided, as part of it was in Cheshire - for example the golf course – and since when he has resided in Cheshire.

The next 14 years saw the first three of five children being brought up firstly in Grappenhall and then Appleton when two more daughters joined the merry throng.

It wasn’t until 1965 that golf was given any consideration but ‘the bug bit’ and he joined Leigh Golf Club in 1966.

Four years later Ted joined Warrington Golf Club (the annual subs that year were less then £25 !) but for the next 20 years or so business and family commitments resulted in a very limited involvement in the sport..

Unfortunately he was never able to achieve one ambition – to become a single figure golfer – having never got below 11!

But there may be some ‘life in the old dog yet, as with a new heart valve fitted last August and continuing physiotherapy Ted trusts there is still room for improvement.

Retirement from business in 1991 enabled him to become a little more proficient in the game as he was able to devote more time to playing the game and even getting involved in the administration / organisation.

Ted joined the Council at Warrington GC in 1994 where he was the Deputy.Chairman of House for two years and Chairman of the Green committee for four years.

In 1997 he was co-opted onto the CUGC committee and joined the full executive in 1998 serving on a number of the committees during that time.

In 2002 Ted was appointed Chairman of the Junior Committee in 2002 and served in that role for three years.

Finally he was asked to stand as Deputy President last year and was very pleased to accept and now in the position of President Ted is very aware of the significant honour this bestows on both Warrington Golf Club and himself..

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