FAMILY and friends of a former golf club president, who died after a long battle with cancer, paid tribute last week during a school tree planting day.

Andover Golf Club hosted family members of Roger Crook (pictured, above) last Thursday, as they planted a copper beech tree in honour of their former president, who died last year.

Mr Crook’s wife, Jan, and his sister, Barbara, were both present at the event, which was tied in with a school planting day, run by Andover Trees United and Plant for the Planet.

Prior to planting the tree, an emotional Jan Crook read out an extract from the poem “Bucks Beeches”, written by Mr Crook’s uncle, Harold Crook.

Mrs Crook used the poem to explain to the 70 watching school children the relationship between the beech tree and Mr Crook’s home county of Buckinghamshire.

She was then joined by golf club president Mark Gates and Mr Crook’s fellow golfing friends in placing earth over the newly planted beech tree.

After the event, Mrs Crook said: “It is a huge honour and privilege to have a tree planted in memory of Roger.

“Andover Golf Club and his fellow golfers were very important in Roger’s life.

‘Very comforting for me’ “He would be very humbled to know he was held in such esteem.

“It is very comforting for me to know, in particular, that a beech tree is growing in Roger’s memory.

“Our daughter Beth, who now lives in California was unable to be there on the day, but was very much with us in spirit.”

Mrs Crook added: “I would like to thank Plant for the Planet and Andover Golf Club for their generous gesture to plant the tree and Mark Gates and Plant for the Planet for their financial contribution toward it.”

The tribute was followed by a tree planting event, organised by Andover Trees United and Plant for the Planet.

Children from schools such as Endeavour, Harrow Way Roman Way and Rookwood all took part in the day, hosted by the golf club.

Students began the day taking part in activities related to the environment and the importance of trees to human life.

The group, who were led by young climate justice ambassadors Erin Hacker and Hannah Bradbury, were then taken out on to the course to plant 70 new trees.

Wendy Davis, chairperson of Andover Trees United, said: “Erin and Hannah recently had to fundraise for their trip to Dublin to take part in Ireland’s first Plant for the Planet Academy event.

“They did so well with the fundraising that they had some money left over and we made a decision to put some money towards the tree for Roger.”

Asked how the school tree planting event, she added: “It’s a lovely thing for the children to do.

“It’s about climate change and looking to the future and creating a better planet for all.”