A familiar figure is leaving the Huddersfield golf scene.

Stephen Johnson, bar manager at Huddersfield Golf Club, is stepping down after 21 years.

Over the last two decades Stephen has become a well-known face, not only to Fixby members but also to many golfers from the district’s other clubs.

He has been responsible for running the bar, keeping the cellar, organising staff and ensuring the smooth running of Fixby’s many functions in the annual social calendar.

It’s estimated that he has overseen the pulling of around 1.4 million pints during his time at the club.

Stephen, 48, started as assistant bar manager and clearly remembers his first day on April 1, 1993.

He said: “I was late for my first day at work.

“It was April Fool’s Day and somebody stole my car!”

Five years later, the problem of getting to work on time was solved when Stephen and his wife, Debbie, a personal assistant at an engineering company, moved into the apartment above the professional’s shop at the club.

With many happy memories behind them, the couple are now looking forward to a new phase of their lives and living in their own home in Rastrick.

They won’t be alone in their new surroundings, they are taking the club’s cat, Jeffrey, with them.

Jeffrey had become a popular visitor to the club with many members, but he is not allowed in the clubhouse, so he moved in with the Johnsons.

Stephen said: “I have a lot of fond memories here.

“Some of the highlights have been the New Year’s Eve dinners and the Picnics in the Park.

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know the members and helping to make people’s functions and weddings successful.

“There are some really nice people here and I will miss that side of it, but it will be nice not to be on call 24/7.

“One thing that Debbie won’t miss is the long drive down to the clubhouse -she has had one or two near misses in the bad weather!

“And the year before last we were snowed in for five days.

“My first priority when I leave will be to get to the gym to shed a few pounds.

“I think this is one chapter closing and another one beginning – and I’m feeling very positive about things.”