Hya, founding member, team captain, president, patron and friend, died at her residence on March 19.  She was 96 years old and retired from the game only four years ago due to failing eyesight.

Hya, as she was affectionately known, merited the title “Lady” long before her husband Carlisle was knighted.  She was loved for her hospitality, dry wit, gift of conversation and stories. 

The Burton name and the Burton residence in Pine Gardens figure prominently in the early history of bridge in Barbados. It was at Hya’s residence in the mid-1940s that the Mayfair Ladies Club of Barbados met, and visions of regional competitions took root. The annual tournament with the Mayfair Ladies Club of Trinidad ran from 1953 until 2009 almost without interruption, and can be seen as the forerunner of the wider regional efforts we support and enjoy today.

Hya was nominated Vice President of Barbados Bridge League at its first meeting on January 14, 1966 and elected President in 1968.  She returned as President in 1990 to oversee the silver jubilee celebrations marked by the first Sun Sea and Slams Bridge Festival, and served unto 2003.  She was made Patron in 2012 after her husband, Sir Carlisle.

She was a fixture on the Ladies Team for many years partnering Nan Collins, and played mixed pairs with Jeffery Newton.

Bridge has a long tradition on Barbados. Some years ago, the major Bridge Clubs on the Island joined together to form the Barbados Bridge League. The League has been able to employ the joint resources of the member Bridge Clubs to provide a dedicated Bridge Club building and modern computer dealing and scoring technology. It attracts the best players on the Island and yet retains the air of laid-back friendliness for which Barbados is famous. Jimmy Cozier was a club member who had the vision of such a league and the Bridge Club building is named after him.