Deadly Derek appointed President at Chart Hills

Posted on 01/09/08. By Henry Alliss

England cricket legend Derek Underwood has been announced as the new president of Chart Hills Golf Club, Biddenden, Kent.

The Kent spin bowler, who was nicknamed Deadly for his accuracy and the youngest player to take 100 first-class wickets in his maiden season, succeeds former cabinet minister Lord Cecil Parkinson in the post.

Underwood will officially take over on September 18, and to mark the handover he will play alongside Parkinson, the club's owner Paul Gibbons and former British Lion, and president of sister-club Dale Hill, John Taylor, in a friendly game at Chart Hills.

Underwood said: "It is a great honour to be president of such a prestigious club. I look forward to meeting the members and enjoying many hours of golf in the future."

Lord Parkinson became president in 1993 when the club was opened by its designer Nick Faldo but decided to stand down because he spends less time in the country now.

Lord Parkinson said: "I am increasingly spending more time abroad with my wife, because of this I feel that I can not commit enough time to the club in order to carry out my responsibilities as president.

"It has been an enormous privilege to be the president of such a magnificent club and I will take away many fond memories.

"I am sure Derek will be just as proud as I have to represent such a wonderful club."

However Lord Parkinson is not disappearing from the club altogether, he has accepted a position as a friend of the Leaderboard Group, which Chart Hills is part of, meaning he can return whenever he likes.