LILLEY Brook's Forbes Hadden, who is the longest-serving professional in the West Region, is retiring when he reaches the age of 64 in September.

He will have spent 39 years with the Charlton Kings club. "It's been virtually my whole life," said the quiet-spoken Glaswegian.

"I have had some great times and made some very good friends over the years," he said. "I have seen a lot of changes and the club is now flourishing."

He can also take much credit for the condition and maturity of the course as he spent 14 years in the duel role of professional and greenkeeper from 1971 when the old groundsman left.

He said: "In the early 70s we planted a lot of trees with Philip Prince, the captain in 1972. We have benefited from the way they have grown ever since."

Mention of Mr Prince, one of his closest friends, touches a sad note. His two-year spell as club president has just ended, but he has been unable to contribute to the club since October.

Then he was badly injured in a road accident at Coombe Hill in October and is still in the Delancy Hospital.

Forbes visits almost every day and said: "He is making progress and hopefully will be out soon. I hope we will be able to play golf together again."

Although Forbes has never made any pretensions at being anything other than an average player "I am not a Tiger Woods nor Tony Jackin" he recalls one of his greatest moments in golf in partnership with his friend.

They won a national Pro-Pro Am and earned a trip to Greece as the prize. Later Forbes won the same tournament again and this time went to Sardinia.They also played in the Super Sixties.

But he said: "What I have won in golf can be measured between the gap between my index finger and thumb. I have led a very quiet, mundane life"

He enjoys affectionate memories of two Pro-Ams run in the 70s by the fledgling Women's Professional Golf Association. And he always enjoys his involvement with the club's annual Pro-Am.

The club are arranging a special golf day in the summer as a tribute to Forbes.

West Region PGA secretary Ray Ellis said: "Forbes is one of unsung heroes in the PGA. He never sought the limelight but has served Lilley Brook with distinction over a lifetime.

"Everyone wishes him a long and happy retirement."

It all started 50 years ago when his father, a member of the Eastwood club in Glasgow, introduced him to the sport.

He later became an assistant at the club. He missed National Service as he failed his medical "I had bad feet and they were only taking in A1s at the time."

That was the signal to move on. He travelled to London and became a teaching assistant for two years at Royal Wimbledon with Russell Dailey whose brother Allan played in the 1933 Ryder Cup.

He also met his wife Lesley in London. They have two sons Fraser (37), an occasion golfer, and Alex (35), a non-golfer. They both live in Cheltenham.

He ventured abroad to France and spent two years in Strasburg. But the winters were harsh and the Haddens longed to return to Britain which they did when Lilley Brook beckoned.

Now that adventure is nearing its end, but Forbes has no intention of putting his feet up in retirement.

"I am used to working such long hours I shall need something to occupy me," he said. "But I shall certainly find more time to play golf."

He is helped by his assistant Mark Cottrell who has been at the club for two years after starting at Tidworth Garrison in Wiltshire. He takes his final exams this month.