A SHORT HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON BRIDGE CLUB PART ONE 1958 - 1982 PRESIDENT: Mrs Lavender Hicks VICE PRESIDENTS: Group Captain and Mrs R. Edwards The club was started by Mrs Lavender Hicks, when 25 years ago she asked Mr & Mrs Mathieson if they were interested in forming a bridge club with a few friends. They originally met in the old George Hall. Several of the founders are still active members of the present club, including Miss Maisie Fisher, who was the first secretary. One of the major difficulties in running a bridge club is to find a suitable place to hold the meetings and the Huntingdon Bridge Club has had many homes during it's life. It has been housed in such varied places as "The Market Inn", "The Black Bull", "Slepe Hall Hotel", "The Womens Institute Hall" and "The Hemmingfords Sports Pavilion". Longer "stays" have been inNo 2 Officers' Mess, Brampton and "The George Hotel", Huntingdon and eventually "The Views" Huntingdon. During the club's stay at "The George Hotel", there were two or three very sucessful supper parties, when the "non-playing" partners of the members were able to meet the "people they heard about on Monday nights". A Ladies' Bridge Luncheon to return the hospitality of the USA Officer's wives at Alconbury was another social activity and for many years a team of club ladies played a match against a Rushden ladies team. Various matches have been played by the club against teams from Peterborough, Ely, Cambridge and Bedford clubs.For a time the club was a member of the S.E. Cambs Junior League as well as playing in other competitions organised by the Cambridge County Association. The club has alwaysheld heats of the EBU and BBL Charity Events and although without any outstanding success, is happy to have contributed to the charities concerned. Over the years the club has received support and influence from members of the Cambridge Club who became members of our club and has had much contact with the Cambridgeshire County Bridge Association whose offices of Chairman of the Management Committee and Vice-President have been filled by a member of our club. A number of trophies have been acquired during the years, notable amongst which are The President's Rose Bowl donated by the founder President for individual success and the Stewart Morton Cup (In memory of the Club Captain who died in office in 1975) for teams of four. The Jubilee year (1982) was celebrated by a bridge party in No2 Officers Mess, RAF Brampton where nearly ninety members, past & present enjoyed a duplicate competition enhanced by the pleasure of meeting so many friends who had come for the occasion. The generous array of prizes was much appreciated by the lucky winners and the tea and birthday cake by everyone. The club continues to attract new members, some, keenly competative players and some less so and the Monday night meetings average twelve tables of players for duplicate competition. The list below of past officers gives record to the members to whom the club is indebted for much service. CAPTAIN TOURNAMENT SECRETARY TREASURER DIRECTOR 1958-60 Dr Hicks Mr Mathieson Miss M. Fisher Mr Andrews 1961-64 Dr Hicks F/Lt Thompson Miss M. Fisher Mr Andrews 1965-68 Dr Shillam G/Capt Edwards Mrs Edwards S/Ldr Pope 1969-72 Dr Shillam G/Capt Edwards Mrs Edwards Mr Ward 1973-74 Cmdr. Morton Mr Aldridge Mrs Jenkins Mr Ward 1975 Cmdr. Morton Mr Aldridge Mrs Gardiner Mrs Gardiner 1976 Mr Aldridge Mr Speller Mrs Stenner Mrs Gardiner 1977-78 G/Capt Edwards F/Lt Hill Mrs Stenner Mrs Gardiner 1979-81 S/Ldr Stenner Mr Hunter Mrs Stenner Mrs Gardiner 1982-83 Mrs Gardiner F/Lt Russell Mrs Jenkins Mrs Craig
MR WARD HAS BEEN, FOR MANY YEARS, SCORER, RECORDER AND KEEPER OF RECORDS
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