WALMERSLEY Golf Club has paid tribute to honorary secretary John Wild, who died on Saturday, aged 72, following a long battle with cancer.

As well as being a long-serving member of the club, Wild also represented the Bury and District Golf Association as player and president.

His funeral will be held at St John with St Mark Church, off Walmersley Road, Bury, at 1.30pm on Friday.

Tim Chadwick, assistant secretary at Walmersley GC, said: "As most (members) will be aware, John fought a long battle against cancer and was active at and around the club up until very recently.

"He was a member of Walmersley for more than 40 years, following a history of family involvement including his grandfather, father, aunt and uncle.

"He served the club as captain in 1993 and again in Walmersley's centenary year in 2006.

"John was also club president in 2004/5, honorary secretary from 2014 and was elected an honorary life member earlier this year.

"He captained the BDGA league team several times and was president in 2011/12.

"John was also heavily involved in the Bury Captains and Past Captains Society, holding the position of secretary and was their inaugural president in 2008.

"His golf career spanned more than 50 years, having originally been a member of Lowes Park.

"He followed his father into the game and never had a golf lesson in his life but despite that reduced his handicap to four, won the Parker Scratch Trophy in 1975 and represented the BDGA.

"John will be remembered for his years of dedicated service to local golf and Walmersley in particular.

"We will all miss his tremendous recollections of matters within the club and its history and offer our deepest sympathy to his wife Joan, daughter Vicki and his three grandchildren.

"On a personal note, I watched his brave fight against cancer, during which he drew great strength from both staff and members at Walmersley who have been so supportive of him. Thank you to you all.

"God bless John."

The Wild family have asked for any donations to be made to Bury Hospice, c/o Fred Hamers, 48-50 Walmersley Road, Bury, BL9 6HT.