The Great Ilkers Power Cut It is with great sadness that we report the passing of one of the true sporting greats of Ilkley. Bodly Fanshaw-Smythe passed away last week, fittingly, on the 1st tee. Bodly had been am afficianado of golf ever since he was a small boy in the latter years of the 19th century. He even wore the same pair of plus fours that had been passed down from Barnabus "Hammer of the Jocks" Fanshaw-Smythe, to his son John "Hammer of the Hun" Fanshaw-Smythe, through his son Redvers "Hammer of the small tin tacks" Fanshaw-Smythe and finally on to Bodly "Mad as a trout" F-S. Lately the somewhat fragrant condition of the plus-fours had led Bodly to being barred from the clubhouse, and when the wind was in the West, from being within two miles of anyone with a sense of smell. Last week, when Bodly struck his normal Wednesday afternoon 1st tee slice into the Wharfe, it connected with the old Willow that had graced the tee since Victoria was a wee girl. A branch already loosened by the actions of the wind, weather, small boys playing truant and perverse squirrels, fell from the tree, struck the power lines and caused a flash of electricity to incinerate both Bodly and his antiquated leggings. His playing partners, Dermot Morton Pasta Bake and Henry Fafafa Haferlager, offered a small prayer of thanks and continued their round uninterrupted by small boys throwing stones for the first time in a half century. Bodly would have been cremated next week at the family chapel, but there was so little left that there really isn't any point. Close family and friends are invited to the service, and asked to bring Dettol rather than flowers in case any suggestion of the old man's trousers still linger.