Captaincy is a family affair at Leighton Buzzard Golf Club

Retired oil company project manager Ian Rimmer, 70, has been appointed vice captain of the senior section at the 600-member club – and wife Christine is the new vice captain of the 100-strong ladies section. Both will take on their respective captaincies late next year.

Southport-born Ian and wife Christine from Macclesfield, married in 1970, but their Golden Wedding celebrations will be put on hold until after they complete their terms as captains in late 2020.

The couple joined Leighton Buzzard Golf Club as social members many years ago and became playing members when Mentmore, where they had been members for 16 years, closed down over three years ago.

Much travelled Ian, an 11-handicap golfer and Christine, who plays off 25, have three children – all born in different countries. Daughter Sarah was born in the USA; her sister Hannah was born in Norway and son Stephen was born in Indonesia. Between them, they have five children of their own.

Explains Ian: “Major projects involved us travelling to many parts of the world; our family grew as we moved to different countries.”

Adds Christine: “We love travelling and we both love golf, so being captains of our respective playing groups at Leighton in the same year is tremendous. “

But it’s not the first time husband and wife have held office in the same year. Neil Bagshaw was club captain in 2010 while wife Liz was captain of the ladies section.

And 80 years ago in 1938, Godfrey Groves was club captain in the same year as his wife was ladies captain.

In his year as captain, scratch golfer Mr Groves became the first Leighton player to win the Bedfordshire County championship, an achievement he repeated the following year.