GOLFERS paid tribute to a fallen serviceman in Afghanistan as they raised £8,500 for charity Help for Heroes.

More than 100 golfers took part in a game at Drayton Park Golf Club, near Abingdon, in aid of the charity, which helps injured servicemen.

Last month’s 18-hole contest was followed by dinner in the clubhouse.

The golfers later learned that 19-year-old Marine Nigel Dean Mead from Carmarthen in Wales, had died in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on the day of the event, Sunday, May 15.

Club captain Bill Major said that the total raised had now been tallied and £8,500 was made from competition fees, donations, a raffle and an auction.

He said: “This is the first time the club has run an event like this for Help for Heroes and it was a great success.

“Golfers came from across Oxfordshire to take part and the course was in excellent condition, with players enjoying the good weather.”

And he said course owner Mike McKenna topped up the sum with a “substantial donation”.

Mr Major added: “Help for Heroes are very pleased – if a soldier loses a limb, he will need funding to support him and his family for the rest of his life. We later discovered that a soldier died in Afghanistan on the day we held the tournament and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Mr Major and club vice captain John Fisher gave the cheque to Help forHeroes Oxfordshire county co-ordinator, RAF Chief Technician Dave Lewis, last week.

Club secretary Rob Bolton said: “We don’t know yet if this will become an annual event, but that is something we will consider. We would like to thank all the golfers who took part, their families who came along, and local companies who sponsored the event.”

Help for Heroes has raised more than £100m since it was formed in 2007 by Bryn and Emma Parry.