West Midlands: Shrewsbury captains support neonatal unit

The captains at Shrewsbury have nominated the Princess Royal Hospital’s neonatal unit as their charity for the year.

Captain Nick Baker, lady captain Tina Robinson and junior captain Joe Sherratt have decided to support the hospital unit in Telford.

Lead nurse Lynn Atkin said: “The funds raised by Shrewsbury golf club this year will be very welcome and help to support the care our staff provide to our pre-term babies. We look forward to meeting the golf club team.”

‘We are most grateful for their support’ The new captains drove into office by each hitting a ball down the first hole, a symbolic starting of the competition that used to be played to determine the club’s captain.

Men’s captain Nick Baker is a paramedic with Shropshire’s ambulance service and turns 50 this year. He joined Shrewsbury in 2001 and said: “I began playing golf in 1996 when some friends I played cricket with invited me to try the game and I’ve always enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to playing golf with many people in the club this year and encouraging people to come and try the game.”

Tina Robinson began playing golf in 1989 and the new ladies’ captain joined Shrewsbury in 2008. She is keen to create opportunities for men and ladies to play in competitions together and said: “Traditionally men and ladies play most of their competitions separately, but the English Golf Union is laying foundations for more mixed competitions and opportunities for men and ladies to play golf together.”

Robinson also explained how one of her grandchildren was born prematurely and would not be alive without the care she had from a neonatal unit. She added: “Today she is a very healthy two-year-old and as this year’s captains we want to ensure that our local neonatal unit has what it needs to look after the young babies and new parents.”