Two Essex charities have benefited to the sum of £6,000 thanks to a day of golf.

Ongar and District Healthcare League of Friends and the Essex Air Ambulance are the chosen beneficiaries of money raised by the Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Cllr Richard Morgan, and over 20 teams from local businesses at the council's Charity Business Golf Day.

Cllr Morgan has chosen to support the Ongar based charity for its invaluable services to the area since it was formed in 1948. He said: "The League of Friends is committed to improving patient facilities at Ongar War Memorial Hospital.They also have an ongoing programme of equipment acquisition for Ongar and the surrounding areas."

Essex Air Ambulance, which began operating from Boreham Airfield, Chelmsford, in 1998, will also benefit from the annual occasion and Mr Morgan praised the charity for its life-saving services: "The Air Ambulance is entirely funded from the generosity of the people of Essex. The service costs about £100,000 per month and so far has been deployed on over 4,000 life saving missions. Both of these charities do a tremendous job and I would like to thank everyone who turned out to raise money for them."

Theydon Bois Golf Club played host to the event on Monday, September 20, supported by Derek Higgins, head of construction company Higgens Group PLC, and Cllr Morgan was keen to thank the businesses who made the day such a success.

He added: "I am delighted that so many local businesses have been able to support us again. The success of any Chairman's charitable effort is very much linked to the support and help received from local clubs, societies and businesses without who this event would not be possible."

The team prize was won by mattehw Carleton, John Wren, Paul Field and Barry Burnell of Triangle Lesiure based in Waltham Abbey. Michael Perry, husband of Epping Forest District Councillor Sue Perry was the overall winner of the individual competition.

Published Monday October 4, 2004

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