Club manager “joking” over disabled email

A golf club manager who has found himself at the centre of a media and political storm over an email he sent to an army colonel over disabled access at his golf club, has said he was joking.

John Maguire, general manager of Richmond Golf Club, sent the email after army colonel Mark Cuthbert-Brown was told there was no lifts for a one-legged ex-soldier friend of his to use at the club. This is because English Heritage prevents the club from making changes to the 300-year-old Grade 1-listed clubhouse building.

Instead, the club offered to provide staff to carry the man up and down stairs.

However, Cuthbert-Brown responded by reporting the club to Richmond council for an alleged breach of equality laws – even though there is nothing the council can do.

Maguire then wrote to Cuthbert-Brown stating that the action “proves my suspicion of just how sad a character you must actually be”. Referring to a music college that Cuthbert-Brown works at, Maguire stated: “I just hope that your ‘little’ organisation is fully compliant with all current H&S, fire regulations as we could all play ridiculously petty little games if we choose. I suggest you stick to playing the triangle, as it’s more suited to your personality.”

The email has been featured in at least one newspaper and local MP, Zac Goldsmith, who is a member of the club, has been drafted in to oversee a mediation process between the two sides.

Cuthbert-Brown said: “I was deeply affronted at the extraordinary rudeness of that email. I thought wheelchair access could be taken for granted in this day and age.”

However, Maguire has said: “This is nothing to do with disabled access or Richmond Golf Club. It is to do with a military officer who has had people buttering him up all his life and who has got the arse because I spoke to him in the way I did. If he can’t take a joke then more fool him.”

He added that he hopes English Heritage will give the club permission to offer disabled access shortly.