Old Course caddie Graham Low has switched looping the links for life on the frontline of the NHS response to the COVID-19 pandemic by signing up as a hospital porter.
Usually in May the 53-year-old from Aberdeen would be among the caddies gearing up for the high season of golfing pilgrims arriving in St Andrews to play the great links, but the entire complex has closed due to the lockdown.
Looking for something else to occupy his time, he’s signed up to work at Wythenshawe Hospital, near Manchester, swapping his caddie’s bib for face mask, surgical gloves and medical apron.
Graham came with present caddie manager Fraser Riddler to St Andrews from the Trump International Links at Menie five years ago, but with his usual earning opportunities blocked, he opted for a temporary change in direction.
“I was in regular contact with Fraser and I think everyone was beginning to get a sense in March that this was going to have a big impact on the season and the number of visitors or rounds there might be,” Graham explains.
“I live with my fiancée Jan in Manchester and for the last four summer seasons I’ve travelled up and rented a place in St Andrews.
“When I began to understand what coronavirus might mean I knew it might not be a normal summer season in St Andrews, or anywhere else for that matter. I’ve always worked, I like to keep busy and I decided that if I could get a job and it could help in any small way that was what I was going to try and do.”
Graham successfully applied for a post as a porter at the Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, initially on a 3-month contract, and experienced at first hand the stark contrast to his usual place on the links.
“The hospital is split into 2 areas effectively,” Graham adds. “One side is for non-Covid-19 patients and the other is set up to deal exclusively with Covid-19 cases.
“I’ve spent most of my time in the latter doing a variety of things, from moving patients and equipment to pushing laundry cages and delivering various medications to the patients around the hospital.
“Unfortunately some of those we have seen coming in have been very ill, and regrettably I have had to make a few trips to the mortuary. It’s incredibly sad to see, especially when so many of the patients can have no real contact with their family and friends.
“When I am on a ward I’m just trying to do my job and talk to the patients when we can, some of them like to talk about golf so I tell them about St Andrews, if they’ve never been they want to hear all about what it’s like, who comes to plays, where they come from and what it’s like being a caddie.”
The weeks with regular NHS staff has given Graham a greater appreciation for their work and selflessness.
“What the doctors and nurses are doing for us all and just how committed they are to saving lives is just incredible,” Graham says.
“I’m obviously just on a temporary contract but from the day I walked in and had my induction there’s been a real team morale and a sense of everyone being in it together, regardless of what each shift might hold.”
With his temporary job, Graham doesn’t need the help of the fundraising drive started by caddie manager Fraser to assist the St Andrews caddies who have no other work or earning opportunities. Fraser’s GoFundMe appeal has had over £45,000 pledged from the worldwide golf community.
“I’ve kept in touch with some players, including a few Professionals on the tour, who I’ve been fortunate to get a bag for,” adds Graham, who has looped for players like new South African star Erik van Rooyen in the past.
“I’ve sent a few emails to them, just trying to raise awareness because so far the golf community, and especially those who have visited St Andrews want to help.
“For myself, I’m grateful to have this opportunity at the hospital,” Graham says. “My contract is for three months and I hope when we reach the end of it that things have maybe changed, and there’s a sense of when and how I can get back to St Andrews.”
Money raised in the appeal for caddies will be distributed by Fraser to those facing financial hardship as a result of the shutdown. The target has been revised from the original £25,000 to £50,000 since it was launched in April.
For more information visit
https://www.gofundme.com/f/st-andrews-caddies?member=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_email%2Binvitesupporters
