R.I.G.S History
Heritage
The Radio Industries Golf Society was started in the early thirties by the Trade Press in the shape of F H Robinson (Robbie) and keen golfer and Managing Director of Marconiphone Mr J H Williams. In 1931 the Marconiphone Cup competition was staged with preliminary rounds played throughout the country and the final played at a London course. The cup was won by Willie Campbell of Kilmarnock.
Formation
So successful was this competition that at the Marconiphone competition final in 1932 (won by James McKenzie of Birkenhead) Mr Williams suggested to Mr Robinson the formation of a golfing society for the industry.
Origins
Acting on the suggestion Mr Robinson convened a meeting in the boardroom of Oldhams Press in December 1932 of golfers and prominent members of the industry and they formed the Radio Industry Golf Society. The original committee included Lord Brabazon of Tara as President, Mr J H Williams as Captain and Captain S R Mullard MBE, Honorary Secretary.
The first meeting of the society was held in March 1933 at RAC Club Woodcote Park. This was the last year that the Marconiphone Cup was held as a separate competition.
Growth
By 1934 the society had grown to some 100 members. Six meetings a year and the first annual ball at Grosvenor House Hotel Park Lane was achieved by 1935 and the membership then was 144. The membership continued to grow up to the outbreak of war in 1939 and at this time the membership was 168 but during the war years the society was inactive.
The Beginnings of the Ball
On the 3rd April 1946 at the Mill Hill Golf Club the Society held an Extraordinary General Meeting when it took stock of its position. By September of that year the society managed to organise three post war meetings and gather in 150 members and the first post war Ball was held at The Dorchester February 1948. Ten years later the Ball was again held at The Dorchester celebrating the 25th year of the Radio Industry Golf Society and the membership now had grown to 223.
Founders Generosity
The founding members were also generous in their sponsorship of meetings, donating trophies and cups that are still played for today. Some examples are: The Marconiphone Cup, RI (Radio Industries) Cup, the BBC Cup and the T A W Robinson (the founder of Pye Radio) Cup. All in all there are over 30 trophies in play with an insurance value in excess of £60,000.
Destination Golf
Since its conception the ethos has always been “Destination Golf”. Swinley Forest had been a fixture for over 40 consecutive years, closely followed by The Berkshire. Today meetings are also held at the 3 “W’s” – West Hill, Worplesdon and Woking, along with Sunningdale and West Surrey, and of course "Captains Day" at The Berkshire.
90th Anniversary- Sunningdale
The membership list had always consisted of senior managers from retailers and manufacturers within the Radio and Television industry. This membership made RIGS into a friendly meeting place to oil the wheels of eventual business. In recent years the UK manufacturing base has declined significantly, and the society has had to adapt; our membership now comes from a variety of different business backgrounds. The only criteria is that if you have a radio or T/V, then you qualify for membership! 91 years on from the first Radio Industry Golf Society competition we still enjoy a society of more than 100 all with the same ethos - to play great golf courses with great people and to make lifelong friendships.