EGU President Donald Steele spoke first, to propose to toast to the Warwickshire Union. Before a very successful career as a golf course architect, Steele was in the doyen of top golf writers and his speech was funny, beautifully timed as well as including messages of support from the EGU

'We owe a great deal to the pioneering efforts of a handful of clubs whose members sowed the seeds of greater competition.

'The EGU exists to represent the best interests of the Counties - the Counties exist to represent the best interest of the clubs.'

After noting the numbers of players from the last two Ryder Cups who are products of County golf, Steele talked to the guests about the drift towards longer and longer courses, to counteract the advances in technology, then concluded his speech with this thought -

'If in cricket the manufacturers of the cricket ball produced a new ball that a schoolboy could smash out of Lords cricket ground, the MCC would not increase the boundaries (even if they could). They would tell them what they could do with their new ball!'

Before the response from our President, Steele presented Warwickshire with a silver commemorative Centenary plate from the EGU. Before John Stubbings responded, he presented the EGU President with one of the final of our Centenary plates.

John started his response with an outline of his many sporting loves and wishes, noting the recent successes of Birmingham City and how Warwickshire County Cricket Club have had success and failure, then going on to talk about the England Cricket team -

'Its been a lifetime ambition to go to Australia to see England play cricket. In two weeks time I am going to fulfill that ambition - and I'm not really looking forward to it after the past few days.

'Watching Warwickshire Golfers has though been a source of great comfort and enjoyment and I was very proud of our reaching County Finals.'

John then detailed what has been a 'frustrating' year with both Junior and First teams going so close to League titles, then the disappointment and sadness for all the people and players who had worked so hard to try and achieve those wins.

There was success to report with the Seconds and Captain Nick Clifford's young team aided and abetted by some stalwarts winning the Midland Second League Title in style. That trophy was presented to Clifford before a surprise presentation to Bill Nicolson who with superb symmetry played his 100th match for Warwickshire this season and has won 100 points (maybe more according to Nicolson).

There were thanks to Past Presidents John Tickell, Jim Sinclair, Tony Reading and Jim Dean for their work on the Centenary Book and the many Centenary occasions and events. That thanks also went to County Treasurer John Powell and the County Secretary Graham Hayes for all their support.

The work of the Junior management team and for the web site was also praised as the County looks to the future and John finished his reply to the toast for our Union with thanks to all our opponents, for the spirit in which matches have always been played and the friendships gained in the ten decades of County golf in Warwickshire.

Sir Michael Bonallack then made the toast for the game of golf. If there is one voice in golf, outside that of Peter Allis in the commentary box, it was the introduction of each Open Champion by Sir Michael at the Open presentations. Sir Michael is a 'giant' of a man in every sense, even in his senior years, respected across the golfing world

He commented on the trend he does not approve of where 'green' is considered best in course preparation and bunkers have little penalty value. There were very wise words on trying to compare golfing eras, stories of Scottish caddy masters whose weather knowledge came not from folklore signs but the local weather forecast on the radio and of the integrity of the sport, with a wonderful story of a cheat brought before a committee who insisted the golfer who reported him could not have seen the supposed two shots taken as he (the cheat) was deep in the trees.

'When questioned, the player reporting the misdemeanor replied - ''In the many years I have known the defendant, I have never heard him say 'Oh F---' on a practise swing!'' '

Sir Michael talked of the incredible friendships he had formed through his International golf, including Dean Beaman who became PGA Tour Commissioner, as well as (of course) Peter McEvoy.

Golf was more fun in the 60s and 70s recalled Sir Michael, and he told the story of a foursomes partner John Blackwell, who could not play great golf unless he consumed a bottle of vodka and orange before a round. Playing the European Team Championships, they had been well down before Blackwell found some bulrushes into which he disappeared to top up on his vodka and orange. That done they won the match upon which Blackwell announced he now had his England point and never wanted to play for his country again.

'I have had so many wonderful experiences and made so many friends.'

The response to this toast came from our own Peter McEvoy, fresh off a 66 at Copt Heath that morning.

Peter was amazed how much he could remember of his Warwickshire golfing career, from the worst golfing nerves he ever suffered when he played in his very first Warwickshire Championships, the Boys.

He recounted how his own County foursomes partnerships had taught him so much - from Peter Preece who showed Peter how golf could be played in a number of ways, through Dick Squires for whom winning was everything and onto Paul Downes and Paul's ability to irritate opponents.

There were special words for Andrew Carman, unable to be at the Centenary Dinner because of a bad back, and two other great friends in Bruce Streather and Peter Dawson (Dawson is the present Secretary of the R&A).

There were stories of playing (and regulalry beating) Sandy Lyle - ('one of the least competitive players I played against' - said Peter) and of the wins in the County finals, with Hayling Island in 1990 a very special time.

The evening concluded with a hilarious, and poignant, recollection of the introduction to golf for John Sterling, Honorary member of the PGA and past PGA Captain, in his formative years in Scotland. John and all the other principle guests very kindly gave us exclusive interviews over the evening which will be serialised on this site between now and Christmas.

So that was the Centenary Dinner. If you missed this very special evening, the Centenary Book was first made available to Warwickshire players yesterday evening. The book is only being published in a limited edition run of 500 copies and those remaining are available by sending a cheque for 20 pounds (per book - made payable to WUGC) to County Secretary Graham Hayes, 114 Stonebury Avenue, Eastern Green, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV5 7NX.

Parts of the book have been serialised on this site over the past three weeks and between now and Christmas, please look out for a review of the Seniors season and the thoughts of County Captain Graham Hargreaves, as well as plenty of places to play golf and Christmas presents in 'Features'.

Its been a very busy year so we haven't been able to update all the galleries for Championships and teams - those will be completed over Christmas - look out for them!