A life-long member of the Leighton Buzzard community who has raised over £75,000 for local and national charities helping the young, the elderly, the sick and the needy, has been awarded the BEM in the New Year honours list.

Retired bookmaker Geoffrey Dimmock, 78, raised the money for worthy causes with an annual golf-charity day and other activities at Leighton’s Plantation Road golf club where he has been a member for 30 years.

Boosted by contributions from friends, playing colleagues and local businesses, Geoff donated every penny to MENCAP, CLIC Sargent which helps children with cancer and leukaemia, cancer patient care and research, altzheimers and heart and liver charities as well as hospitals and other organisations which help sick and elderly people.

Supporting him at every event was wife Pam who he met at infant school in Linslade. They’ve been married for 56 years and have two sons, Paul and Stephen, who both live and work locally. .

Having left school at the age of 15, Geoff had several jobs before becoming a Unigate milkman. He later became a turf accountant, managing his own business for 30 years before retiring in 2005.

While sport has played a major role in Geoff’s life, his passion for golf was ignited over 30 years ago, since which time he has won several competitions despite using only four clubs for his regular rounds on the Plantation Road course. While most golfers take the maximum of 14 clubs, Geoff  uses just a 3 and a 5 wood, a six iron and a putter, explaining: “I play no better with a full set, so why carry more for three miles if you don’t use them.”

Says Geoff, who organises a group of golfers affectionately known as the ‘Plum Duffs’ raising money at weekly events and the annual charity day: “I never thought for a minute that our charitable efforts would be recognised in this way.  It came right out of the blue; I feel humbled and honoured and look forward to carrying on for a few more years yet.”

The official citation states the award was made ”for services to the community of Leighton Buzzard.”