Richard Willacy (Wills West, 1976-1981) gave a talk to Year 7 and 8 pupils as well as Senior School golfers on the topic of “How golf has helped me in life.”

Richard began playing golf at the age of five and, despite not meeting his earlier ambitious to be a professional golfer, has continued playing alongside a very successful career in finance.  

During the session, Richard shared how golf has shaped his life, instilling discipline, patience and resilience. He also talked about the way the game has created enduring friendships, often with people he would otherwise never have met. He emphasised the importance of setting goals and working diligently to achieve them, drawing parallels between golf and various aspects of life. 

Additionally, Richard introduced the school’s new golf simulator, named ‘The Westy’ in honour of his best friend, Old Tauntonian, Iain Westwater. This state-of-the-art simulator was generously gifted to the school by an OT and will provide students with the opportunity to practice and improve their golf skills, regardless of weather conditions.