IT was a pleasure to receive correspondence from Looking Back regular Peter Fry, who has some interesting information about an engineer who worked on the Monarch paddle steamer.

A few weeks ago we marked the 70th anniversary of Monarch passing through Weymouth's Town Bridge on her final journey to the breakers.

Reader Maureen Medley got in touch and shared photos of her grandfather Eddie 'Arthur' Le Sueur, an engineer on the Monarch paddle steamer.

Peter, who has a keen interest in golf, can fill us in with more information about what became of young Eddie in the picture – a notable gentleman in the world of golf with plenty of local interest.

Edwin Noel Le Sueur (Eddie) was born in Weymouth in 1908 and, from the age of 13, spent his spare time caddying at Came Down Golf Club for one shilling a round, plus a three penny tip if he was lucky.

At age 16, he was articled as an engineer to Cosens and Co. However, golf was his first love so to the displeasure of his father and his schoolmaster, he left Cosens to work for Ernest Whitcombe in the professionals shop at Came Down Golf Club.

When Ernest moved in 1925 to be the professional at Meyrick Park, Bournemouth, and Ernest's brother Rag took over, Eddie became the assistant professional. After Reg moved on to Parkstone Golf Club, Eddie stayed for a further two years at Came Down with the new professional Syd Realff.

Realff was a skilled golf club maker and this suited Eddie for he was already fascinated by the art of club-making. As a direct result he became a renowned expert himself. In 1930 Eddie moved to be with his friend Reg Whitcombe at Parkstone Golf Club. For the following 22 years Eddie ran the shop at Parkstone, busy club-making and teaching while Reg was away making his name as a 1935 Ryder Cup player and as the 1938 Open Champion. When Reg Whitcombe won the Open Championship around the Royal St. George's course at Sandwich, he was using golf clubs crafted by Eddie.

In 1952 Eddie finally became a club professional in his own right when he was engaged at the Northbourne Golf Club, since renamed the Knighton Heath Golf Club. His final engagement was at Broadstone Golf Club where he was in post between 1955 and 1975. He was also the honorary secretary of the West of England PGA for many years, served on the PGA's executive committee and regularly instructed on club repairs at PGA courses. He died in 1989, aged 76.

In his time Eddie's club-making skills were widely recognised. Goodness knows now, with modern technology, what Eddie would make of today's mass produced golf clubs.

Thanks to Peter for details of the engineer who went on to lead a fascinating life in golf.