Peter Johns stood down as chairman of Eaton Golf Club in Norwich and resigned his membership after what the club described as a "discreet investigation".

In an email to members, seen by this newspaper, the club alleged: "Peter repeatedly failed to declare conflicts of interest in relation to his role representing Eaton Golf Club within a commercial consortium. In addition, commission payments that were due to the Club were instead paid directly to Peter."

The club also told members: "Peter has now repaid all monies that were owed to the Club."

Mr Johns was approached and the allegations were put to him in detail. However, he declined to comment.

Peter Johns has resigned as chairman of Eaton Golf Club (Image: Newsquest)

The club said the 70-year-old had resigned as chairman on September 7.

Its email to members said: "Peter’s resignation was compelled by a unanimous vote of the Board at a Special Board meeting, the culmination of a discreet investigation that commenced in the summer earlier this year.

"Pending the convening of a formal disciplinary hearing, Peter resigned his membership with immediate effect."

Mr Johns, who first joined Eaton as a member in 1979, has also stepped down as secretary of the Norfolk County Golf Union, the governing body for amateur golf in Norfolk, a role he had held since 2019.

Peter Johns (Image: Newsquest)

In the email sent to members, Eaton Golf Club alleged: "These matters represent a clear breach of the standards expected of anyone holding office at Eaton Golf Club.”

The club said it had spoken to Norfolk Constabulary but that its board had "unanimously decided that the club will not pursue any further action".

Eaton Golf Club was contacted for comment, but did not respond.

Eaton Golf Club (Image: Simon Finlay)

In its email to members, it added: "The board has already commenced work to strengthen our governance arrangements.

"This will include clearer policies, improved oversight and more robust expectations of probity for all office holders.

"These changes are essential to ensuring that the club is protected and that members can have full confidence in how their club is managed."

Before being appointed as chairman of Eaton Golf Club, Mr Johns served as the club's secretary/manager.

The club said Warren Gannaway has been asked to accept the position of acting chairman until it elects a replacement.

Mr Johns resigned from his role as secretary of Norfolk County Golf Union on September 12.

A statement on the organisation's website said: “We thank him for his service over many years in the role.

“The process of recruiting his successor is now under way and we will announce the appointment in due course.”

HISTORY OF EATON GOLF CLUB

Eaton Golf Club is one of Norfolk's longest-established golf clubs.

Its history can be traced back to a public meeting held in February 1910, which invited people interested in starting a golf course in the area.

That year, the club inherited an old, corrugated-iron shed which had been used as changing rooms for polo players.

The facilities were considered inadequate, so a new building was erected at a cost of just over £108, with a further £59 being spent on furniture and fittings.

Robert John Read, known as Jack Read, owned the well-known flour milling business at Albion Mill on King Street in Norwich.

He was described at Eaton’s first AGM held on January 10, 1912, as “the originator of the club”.

On the night of May 28, 1921, the clubhouse was destroyed by a devastating fire in which members’ equipment and all of the club’s records were lost.

Eaton Golf Club in Norwich (Image: Eaton Golf Club)

Eaton Golf Club in Norwich (Image: Eaton Golf Club)

In the early hours of May 4, 1937, an RAF scouting plane from Duxford crash-landed on the course.

The club later overcame a prolonged threat to its future when members fought to prevent the course being sold for development.

Today, Eaton Golf Club is widely regarded as one of Norwich's premier golf clubs, with a full adult membership costing £1,365, plus a £400 one-off joining fee.