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 My younger brother Reg
was to be the fifth Gadd brother to turn pro. and the second one to
become a nonagenarian. He went to Market Harborough, where he was
pro/greenkeeper for a time before leaving the golf profession. Fred,
the third son, was struck by polio as a youngster, but he still
managed to play a good game, even with his seat propped up by a
walking stick – quite a performance!
Much as I loved the game of golf my ambition as a boy did not lie in
that direction. The son of the house where I was employed after
school was a Naval Officer and often talked to me about life at sea.
I was convinced that this was the life for me and was overjoyed when
he offered to sponsor me to enlist in the Royal Navy when I was old
enough. My hopes were dashed when the required parental consent was
not forthcoming and the opportunity was lost. This was a huge blow
to me at the time and it was small consolation when I was told that
it had been agreed (not by me) that I was to join my brother Charles
as a golf professional. I was to leave at the earliest opportunity –
perhaps they thought I would run away to sea – but, in the haste to
send me on my way, something had been overlooked.
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