HISTORY

NEWTON NOTTAGE GOLF CLUB CLOSES MEET MY ANCESTORS

Newton Nottage Golf Club, which was opened on 1st October 1919, closed in June 1922. The new nine-hole golf club, which ran behind Mackworth Road, was created for the artisans of the town with an initial subscription of one guinea. Although its end was mainly attributed to the lack of support from the town, according to the ‘Porthcawl News’ (May 1922) the “golfing enthusiasm which has taken root in Pyle and Kenfig has brought into possibility one of the finest courses in the country,” had already began attracting members from the Newton Nottage Club. By the end of the month Frederick Lord, Captain, addressed the final general meeting held at the Carlton Café, John Street, (Indicated on photo. Balcony is Spar today) proposing that the offer of a merger with P&K be accepted. During its short existence however, Newton Nottage GC had left its mark on Welsh Golf. The club had twice been runners-up in the Welsh Team Championships whilst E.R. Rowe had been runner-up at the Welsh Closed Championship, held at Aberdovey in 1921. The appearance at the Welsh team Championships at Tenby in June proved to be the club’s last competition. It was recorded at the final meeting, “We trust that P&K will carry on the good work.”

Ceri Joseph

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were periods of great religious conflict, which resulted in many people entering, and leaving, the Netherlands and the Low Counties. Antwerp witnessed an exodus of fifty percent while the city of Hondschoote saw a decline of 18,000 to 385 inhabitants. My 11 x great grandparents Jacob Quick (1547 – 1604) and Wilhelm Steenberg (1582–1613) joined this migration. At the turn of the sixteenth century, Jacob and Wilhelm arrived in Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Apart from the quest for religious freedom, what drew them there? The answer was lead. For centuries the people of Wirksworth had relied on lead mining to make a living and by the 1600s lead had become as important to the national economy as wool. In the mines, flooding was a problem. Therefore, in search of a solution, the locals turned to people who were experts at drainage and flood defences – the Dutch. Jacob Quick and Wilhelm Steenburg settled into their new lives in Derbyshire. Jacob produced a son, Philip, born on 29 June 1597 in Bonsall, Derbyshire while Wilhelm produced a daughter, Rachel, born on 15 August 1602, also in Derbyshire. c1625, Philip married Rachel and in 1635 they produced my 9 x great grandmother Hannah Quick.

Hannah Howe, international bestselling author https://hannah-howe.com

Deadline date for the July issue is: SUNDAY 12TH JUNE