Tees Valley golf stalwart Anthony Abraham, a past president of Yorkshire, has accepted the nomination to become President Elect of the English Golf Union for the year 2010 with a view to becoming President in 2011. The 66-year-old avid fan of golf and soccer says he is delighted and astonished to be considered and is looking forward to the next two years.

He said; "I was almost speechless when I received the letter. It had never crossed my mind that I might be asked. But this is a great honour for myself, my club, the district union and my county."

Anthony (pictured) was born in 1943 in the house in which he still lives in Carperby, Wensleydale in North Yorkshire.

He remains managing director of the family company, which has developed from haulage to a property and garage business.

Anthony was educated locally, then at Earnseat School, Arnside, at Sedbergh School and subsequently St Catharine's College, Cambridge where he read Classics.

At university he played golf for Cambridge Stymies and occasionally represented the Blues team. He was a Category One golfer for many years, representing the Teesside Union on occasions, but never Yorkshire.

Captain of Catterick Golf Club in 1976 (President since 1999 to date) and President of the Teesside Union in 1982, he was elected to the Yorkshire Committee in 1988. He was chairman of the Championship Committee from 1993 -95; and chairman of Junior Golf & Coaching Committee from 1996-2000, a member of the Yorkshire Selection Committee from 1988-2002 and from 2004-6; and was Yorkshire President in 1998.