Obituaries

Jenny Grant

- 11th December 2023

We are sad to report that Jenny Grant passed away on 11th December 2023.

Jenny was a long time member of the Leicester Bridge Centre, The County Club and Glenfield, forming notable partnerships with Harold Markham, and Bharat Thakrar. As well as representing her clubs in the LCBA Winter League from the 1970s until lockdown, she repsreneted Glenfield in the National Inter-Club Knockout (NICKO). She was regularly selected to represent Leicestershire in the Midlands League in the Porter and Markham teams.

Jenny was a friendly, pleasent lady at the table. Her regular "sorry partner" apologies often masked what was a very competent bridge player underneath. Her list of LCBA trophy wins stretch from 1979 until 2020 - a 41-year window - is testament to that.

  • Wilde Cup
  • Leicestershire Cup
  • Joyce Cup
  • Butterworth Trophy
  • Stanley Trophy
  • Hyman CrammerTrophy
  • Otto & Edith Trophy
  • Olga Cup
  • Samani Silver Salver

Stan Williams

- 2nd September 2023

We are sad to report that Stan Williams passed away on 2nd Septemer.

Stan was a long time and populate member of Barkby (now-defunct), Blaby and County Bridge Clubs.

He was reknown for his love of food and the friendly manner in which he played his bridge.

On the bridge front, Stan played in the league for many years, including playing for Blaby's first team with Anne Moncrief. He regularly supported the LCBA competitions.

The funeral will be at Great Glen crematorium at 12.30pm on Thursday 28th September and then on to the Cradock Arms. Please let Anthea Byrne of the County Bridge Club know if you going as she is coordinating numbers.

John Myles

- 6th August 2023

We are sad to report that John Myles passed away recently.

Prior to lockdown John would regularly drive from his home in Uttoxeter to represent Westcotes in the Winter league or to play on club night. But since Covid he forwent the travelling and played against his Leicester friends on BBO in our virtual clubs.

For many years, John played in a wide variety of LCBA competitions with Dennis Davis. How many of you with long memories, can remember playing against John in the Winter league when he represented the Magazine team? They used to play their home matches at the Magazine pub on Newarke Street, Leicester, now long-gone.

Robert Northage

We are saddened to report that LCBA life member Robert Northage died on 21st December 2021 following a recent stroke. Dave Pollard has written this obituaryLink to Robert's obituary in tribute to Robert.

Bharat Thakrar

We are saddened by the news that Bharat  has died suddenly at home yesterday.

Tim Glover writes "I first met Bharat more than thirty years ago at the Leicester Bridge Centre.  I was impressed by the warm and friendly greeting, handshake and introductions when we arrived at his table.  His bridge was competitive and played with considerable flair.

His first success came in the Leicester Mercury Student Trophy in 1989.

After the Bridge Centre closed, Bharat transferred his loyalty to Glenfield and his partnership with Jenny Grant enjoyed considerable success at county level including the Samani Silver Salver, Otto and Edith Bowl, Stanley Trophy (twice with Jenny and once with Peter White).

Bharat's most recent successes were last year, when he won the Otto & Edith Bowl (for the fifth time) and Leicestershire Cup Plate.

Bharat's was the first name on the team sheet for Glenfield teams in the Leicestershire League and National Inter Club Knockout.  He represented Leicestershire many times in the Porter and Markham leagues."

Our sympathies go to Bharat's family and friends.

Bill Hood

We were sad to learn of the death of Bill Hood on 19th May. Bill played for the Leicestershire County first team with Nick Stevens until 2014 and was a regular League player for Spencefield (with Pat Watson) and later for Hinckley. He won the Leicestershire Cup with Pat in 1995, and served on the LCBA committee for a year in the 1990s. 

Marjorie Gilbertson

We were sad to learn of the death of Marjorie Gilbertson. Tributes have been paid on the web sites of her Clubs (Blaby, County and Glenfield). At the LCBA she was a regular competitor. Her favourite event was the Olga Cup which she won no less than 7 times over a period of 33 years with her partners Margaret Pote (1986,1989), Janet Brown (1995,1996,1997), Pat Watson (2004) and Judy Hill (2019). With her husband Don she was also winner of the Otto & Edith Bowl in 1994, and the Hyman Crammer in 1983 and 1987. She was also in winning teams in the Butterworth Langley Trpohy (2014), Leicestershir Cup (1999) and Leicestershire Cup Plate (2018). With Pat Watson she played in the County Matches for many years and regularly enjoyed the Coventry and Leicestershire Pairs Leagues. 

In her working life Marjorie was a teacher at Charnwood Primary School, just on the Highfields side of Humberstone Road.

Susan BowyerSusan Bowyer obituary      1956 to 2018
David FieldDavid Field obituary      12 February 1948 to 16 February 2018
Tony OdamsTony Odams obituary      30 July 1933 to 3 December 2016
Geoff SwannGeoff Swann obituary          -  Jan 2016
Jean Wightman Jean Wightman obituary        23 March 1928  -  23 October 2015