Obituary: Angela Uzielli

ANGELA UZIELLI was one of life's natural charmers. Her death is a shock to the amateur golfing world, whose very constituents she epitomised. She was an amateur in the best traditions of the game, with an irrepressible sense of fun.

Uzielli did not have a conventionally pretty swing, but she was a great competitor, whose love of the game always bubbled to the surface. Her competitive streak is reflected in her record, which includes becoming British champion in 1977, playing in the 1978 Curtis Cup, taking the English title in 1990 and the British Senior Championship six times from 1990, the last in September at Malone, where she won by a whopping six shots. She was an England captain and the 1990 Woman Golfer of the Year.

One of four children, she was born in 1940 to a Norfolk golfing family and played at Hunstanton, where her parents John and Peggy Carrick were members from the 1930s. Her father, a farmer, was a good golfer, while her mother was an impressive Norfolk champion 11 times between 1938 and 1977.

Since 1965, Uzielli, with Peggy Carrick, now 82 and until recently a scratch golfer, won the Mothers and Daughters Open Foursomes 21 times. Only lately did Uzielli enter with her own daughter, Caroline, and they won together in 1996.

Before her marriage, Uzielli worked in the former Rhodesia as ground staff for an airline. Her husband John was in marine insurance and, living in London, she played little golf as she had two young children. It was a family steeped in the sport. Uzielli's husband had been captain of golf at Oxford University and is a member of the Royal and Ancient; her son became captain of golf at Cambridge University and a golfing blue.

When the family moved to Ascot and in 1973 joined the Berkshire Golf Club, Uzielli became a stalwart member as well as a family woman, dashing from competing in and winning the Avia Foursomes to baking cakes for her daughter's birthday, which took place in the same week.

Angela Uzielli had a slightly rebellious streak. She was a strong personality who could give a caustic opinion without worrying who was listening. But above all she was fun and totally unaffected, whether making up a four with the Duke of York at the Berkshire or playing with a high handicapper. Berkshire ladies' champion 16 times, she was captain, honorary secretary and a stalwart committee member at her club.

The image that remains is of an effervescent personality, full of bonhomie. Fifty yards away from her, you would smile in anticipation of a chat. An active woman and a communicator, she might wave to someone across the fairway or chase round her home with the Hoover before she went out to her beloved golf.

Angela Mary Carrick, golfer: born Swanton Morley, Norfolk 1 February 1940; married 1967 John Uzielli (one son, one daughter); died Ascot, Berkshire 4 November 1999.