I am honoured to step into the role of Incoming Captain of Eaton GC a position that means a great deal to me after 16 years as a member. Over the years, the club has become much more than a place to play golf—it has become a community of friends, shared experiences, and traditions that I greatly value.
I was born in Kingston upon Hull, the youngest of four children in a busy and hardworking family. Much of my early life centred around my father’s greengrocers’ shop, where my siblings and I all spent time helping out. Those days behind the counter taught me the fundamentals of customer service, and treating people with respect—lessons that have stayed with me throughout my personal and professional life.
For my education I attended Hull Trinity House which was a traditional/formal school designed to prepare you for a life at sea as an officer. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, I did not choose a life at sea!
Like many from Hull, my career began in the shipping industry. Remaining based in the city, I later moved into the logistics technology sector, joining a market-leading global partner specialising in future-proof automation for warehousing, airports, and parcel operations. This introduced me to a fast-moving and innovative industry that helped shape the next stage of my career.
A new opportunity then brought me and my family, to Cheshire, where I joined Markem-Imaje—a global leader in product identification, packaging intelligence, and connected product solutions—as the UK Technical Service Manager. My career ultimately culminated in leading a specialist technical support team dedicated to providing solutions to our Global Strategic Accounts, deepening my experience in international operations, customer collaboration, and team leadership and the experience of travelling the world.
My journey into golf began in 1996, when my body finally decided it had had enough of my first sporting passion—football. What began as a natural shift soon grew into a true love for the game. Golf has brought challenge, balance, enjoyment, and many close friendships, and the club has always felt like a welcoming and grounding place for me.
This year, I am proud to support When You Wish Upon a Star as my chosen charity. It is a charity close to our hearts, as my wife, Lorraine, experienced its kindness and generosity with the birth of her son, Matthew. The organisation brings joy and hope to children living with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses by turning their dreams into unforgettable realities. Whether it’s meeting a hero, visiting a magical destination, or enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, each wish provides comfort, strength, and cherished memories during unimaginably difficult times.
As Captain, I am committed to supporting our competitions, nurturing an inclusive and friendly atmosphere, and helping maintain the strong sense of community that makes our club truly special. I look forward to working with members, staff, and volunteers to make the year ahead memorable and successful for everyone.
David Staniforth
I was born in Bootle, Liverpool – the youngest of 4 siblings.
The family moved to Crosby when I was 2 years old where I went to an all-girls’ Grammar school before training in Liverpool to become an Architect and registering at the Royal Institute of British Architects. I met my future husband, Andrew, in the latter years of our studies and we were married in 1975.
I worked for local practices in Liverpool including the brewery department at Joshua Tetley’s where I refurbished their public houses but moved to Bermuda in 1978. It was initially for a 3-year contract as an Architect with a local company but we stayed there for 37 years and formed our own practice, The Caulfield Partnership in 1999.
After our son Tom, was born and was away studying, in 2004 I learnt to play golf and took lessons at the prestigious Mid Ocean Club. It is a challenging Charles Blair MacDonald course, often with strong winds being on a small Island in the middle of the Atlantic, but with spectacular views. I did win a number of crystal trophies but my claim to fame was getting a hole-in-one at the infamous 7th Island green in an opening tournament, when not only my playing partners but the following team could see it roll into the hole.
However even though our son still lives in Bermuda, we returned to the United Kingdom in April 2015, where we joined Eaton later that year. I have served on the Ladies Committee for 6 years as Handicap Secretary, which included the introduction of the new World Handicapping System.
My charity for this year is Maggie’s Wirral (cancer centre Clatterbridge). Almost everyone has been or knows someone affected by cancer and Maggie’s is a centre where anyone, including friends and family, can get practical and emotional support with any type of cancer and at any stage.
Elizabeth Caulfield