27 October 2004 00:00 Central Networks’ Golf Society gets a hole in one for the Leicester Royal Infirmary

The Central Networks Pegasus Golf Society has raised £1,000 for the Leicester Royal Infirmary, to thank staff for the help and support they offered a member’s family.

Barry English, an Engineer for Central Networks, helped raise the money after his baby son Billy was born prematurely, weighing just 3lb 7oz.

Born with chronic lung disease, little Billy had to stay in an incubator for five weeks and was in the Neonatal unit of the Leicester Royal Infirmary for nine weeks in total.

Barry said: “It was a worrying time for all the family. My partner, Laura, and I spent a great deal of time at the LRI and we are so grateful for the support and care of the nurses, who were all wonderful.

“Billy has two older brothers and sisters, and juggling caring for them with working shifts and caring for our new baby was very tough. The nurses were fantastic letting my partner and I visit any time of day or night.”

The Central Networks Pegasus Golf Society has 50 members, including retired employees. They play throughout the golf year and hold various fund raising events. Secretary of the Golf Society, Ian Jacob, said: “Barry and his partner Laura have gone through so much and we’re so pleased that Billy is now fit and healthy and at home with his new family”.

“Through our fund-raising events we raised £500 and with matched funding from E.ON UK, our parent company, we raised a total of £1,000. Donating it to the Neonatal unit at the Leicester Royal Infirmary seemed the natural thing to do after all the wonderful support they offered Barry and his family.”

And thanks to becoming a dad once again, Barry says that he’s exchanging his golf club for nappies and teddies: “The golf clubs have been put away for a little while and now I’m more interested in getting a good night’s sleep rather than a hole in one!”

ENDS

Notes to editors:
•Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
•Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Rebecca Middleton on 024 7642 5779
Out of hours, call 024 7642 4000 and ask for the duty press officer