A late cancellation means that we now have space for one more pair of bridge players - so if you wanted to come along but hadn't booked in time, now is your chance!

To take advantage of this opportunity, please email david.gilmore@virgin.net - but you will have to be quick because we will be finalising the guest list in early November.

Thanks to prompt payments by many attendees, we were able to complete the main exchange of pounds to euros on Monday 10th October at a rate of 1.11. As we had allowed sufficient contingency from when we had used a rate of 1.15 to calculate costs on 1st October, we are pleased to confirm that we will not be affected by any further instability in the value of the pound. (However, I can make no such promise regarding your own personal 'spending money' when we finally get to Madeira in January!)

The prices for the holiday have now been fixed given the exchange rate of €1.15 : £1 on 1st October 2016.

Although the fall in the value of the pound against the euro of over 11% means that these prices are slightly higher than the original guide prices, we are pleased to say that savings elsewhere have enabled us to minimise the increases to far less than this percentage.

Individual emails showing your balance due have been distributed, and we would ask that you settle these as soon as practicable - and certainly by the end of October at the latest.

We regret that we can no longer accept any new bookings. However, we shall maintain a 'reserve list' of people who would like to take up a place should we have any cancellations - please email david.gilmore@virgin.net to be put onto the reserve list.

We currently have 52 players booked for our holiday giving us 13 full tables for bridge, plus three non-playing guests.

The precise cost for the bridge holiday will be set on 1st October depending on the Euro exchange rate on that date. We will then send out invoices to you showing the exact balance that is due, which you are requested to settle by 31st October.

We may still be able to accept late booking for new guests - please check with David or Colin.

Saccharum Hotel Resort and Spa, Madeira, 21-28 January 2017

This article has been left in its original form and has not been amended to reflect the prices set on 1st October 2016

Our two Bridge Clubs have run successful domestic events in the last few years. We are now planning a joint overseas venture with a seven-night trip to Madeira in January 2017, staying at the 5-star Saccharum Hotel Resort & Spa on the south-west coast of the island in Calheta. The holiday will be open to bridge players and non-playing partners alike.

We will hold up to 12 formal duplicate events over the course of the week: each evening from Sunday to Friday and on six mornings and/or afternoons depending on the weather – leaving the sunniest times free for excursions. We intend to make the holiday as full and enjoyable as possible for all by ensuring that there are plenty of non-bridge activities available for both players and non-players. David has a wealth of knowledge concerning the myriad attractions of the island, and is prepared to act as our very own English-speaking tour guide!

Places for this event will be limited to a maximum of 64 bridge players. There is no requirement to have a playing partner for the event – the organisers will make every effort to match single players up as places are taken. Obviously, if you have a regular partner prepared to play with you for six nights consecutively that will make the organisersʼ life easier!

The guide price will be £540 per person based on two people sharing a standard room. This includes flights with British Airways, transfers to and from the hotel, half board accommodation for the week, and of course, bridge. Premium rooms and suites are available. Unfortunately there will be a single room supplement of £160, making the guide price £700 for a single person. We will try to pair up single travellers who wish to avoid this extra cost and are prepared to share a twin-bedded room.

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and guests are welcome to extend their stay in Madeira. We can book extra nights for you at the Saccharum at a similar rate, or you may wish to book a hotel elsewhere (eg in Funchal). Please arrange any alteration from the standard group flight with Doug Lavis of 2001 Travel Ltd http://www.2001travel.com/map.html (who is kindly arranging the group flight for us), or you are free to arrange your own flights entirely (which will reduce the package cost by £240 per person).

We have calculated these guide prices using the current exchange rate of about £1:€1.30. If there is a significant fluctuation in currency rates between now and October then we will need to alter the final price. It is our aim to provide an affordable event for members which broadly breaks even - so we will only increase the price if we have to, and will be very happy to reduce the price if the exchange rate changes in our favour.

Although the guaranteed booking period has now closed, there are a few places still available for late bookings - please use the booking form on this website.

Finally, please ensure you have appropriate travel insurance. We will make every effort to return payments in the event of an unforeseen cancellation, but we cannot guarantee a full refund as we will need to confirm flights and/or rooms well in advance of the event.

We look forward to welcoming you on this event.

David Gilmore and Colin O’Hara