A MAN who stole from his golf society has been reinstated as secretary while those who blew the whistle are being frozen out.

Mark Tremblin, 40, who was secretary of the Duke of Wellington Golf Society, could go to jail after stealing more than £6,000 which was meant to fund a group golfing trip to Tunisia.

But in a letter to the Adver the golf society says that the vast majority of its members forgive Tremblin and have reinstated him as the group's secretary.

The letter says that the golfers who reported Tremblin to the police did so without their knowledge.

The members who went to the police say they are amazed that they have been made out to be in the wrong.

Society president Mark Humphries, who is landlord of the Duke of Wellington pub, on Eastcott Road, said: "Mark has apologised to us all. The general consensus is we know he did wrong but circumstances made him do it.

"He obviously needed the money. He was in trouble and couldn't raise money quick enough.

"I've known him for 16 years. For 12 of these he has been secretary and chairman. We have been travelling abroad every year for 10 years and we have always got what we paid for."

Tremblin told his fellow golfers that the travel agency had cancelled the trip and two members stepped forward to pay for the holiday. Tremblin has since paid them back.

Mr Humphries said: "As far as we are concerned this is over.

"We feel it is a ridiculous waste of taxpayers' money to have Mark in court.

"This has affected his life in a big way. His social life isn't what it used to be."

Mr Tremblin, of Leslie Close, Freshbrook, admitted three charges of fraud by abuse of his position over a period of 12 months between May 1, 2006, and May 24 this year. He will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court at a later date.

Mr Humphries says there has been tension within the society, as a small number of golfers still feel angry about what Mr Tremblin did.

"There is an awkwardness at the moment," he said.

"We are still trying to keep the society going and opinions vary over this."

Members Brian Keating, 61, Chris Scarles, 55, and David Williams, 62, were among those who went to the police.

Mr Williams said: "They are saying the people that brought it to the attention of the police are the baddies.

"They are suggesting that we have brought the society into disrepute but we are not going to resign. If they want us out let them kick us out.

"It's ridiculous. The man has pleaded guilty. We believe that what we did was right.

"I have spoken to individuals in the society who say what we did was right.

"I find the attitude that we are the baddies for exposing the deceit amazing.

"How they could even suggest that they should have this man back on board beggars belief as far as we are concerned.

"They are defending the indefensible. To try and exonerate Mark Tremblin and make out that he has been wronged is quite frankly risible.

"The signatories to the letter have their opinion, we have ours and I would suggest that there is a clear defining line between opinion and fact."

Mr Scarles said: "As far as I am concerned all we have done is report the facts to the police and the courts have taken the correct action.

"The man has pleaded guilty."