PRESTBURY DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
On Tuesday the 27th September 2011, a beautiful, warm, sunny evening, Prestbury Duplicate Bridge Club held a special 20th Anniversary Dinner at the Bridge Hotel, Prestbury. Many of the guests this evening were founder members of the club and still playing highly competitive games of bridge.
Margaret Broughton was the special guest for the evening as it was she who had the original idea of starting a bridge club in the village with the specific aim of supporting The East Cheshire Hospice. Since September 1991, the club has raised £54,000. This year a cheque for £3,000 was presented to Roger Payne, Chairman of The East Cheshire Hospice.
Also in attendance at the dinner were all but one of the founding committee:
From left to right, Jean McKillop, Irene Waters, Margaret Broughton and Margaret Owen.
Margaret Broughton who was the founding organiser and special guest for the evening, Jean McKillop who was the founding tournament director and is again the current tournament director, Margaret Owen who was the treasurer and Irene Waters who was the match points secretary. Both Margaret Owen and Irene Waters celebrated their 90th birthdays this year. The other founding committee member, Anne Norbury, was unable to attend the dinner.
Drinks were served at The Bridge Hotel from 7.00 pm to 7.30 pm followed by a delicious meal of guinea fowl, baked Alaska and coffee.
Anthea Brough, the present Chairman, welcomed Roger Payne from The East Cheshire Hospice and presented this year’s cheque for £3,000.
From left to right, Margaret Broughton, Roger Payne, Anthea Brough and Jean McKillop.
Roger spoke briefly of the needs of the hospice as only 23% of income is in the form of government grant the remainder comes from fund raising and gift aids. Given that £6,000 is needed to run the hospice every day this illustrates the huge task facing the governing body.
Dorothy Wroe, retiring secretary, had made a 20th Anniversary Birthday Cake.
Margaret Broughton cut the cake and made a short speech thanking all the committee members over the last 20 years who had worked so hard to continue the success of the club.
The membership has remained constant in excess of 120 members and an average attendance of 50 members each week.
Anthea thanked Margaret for her great insight in founding the club and said that “the idea had paid in spades”. The club had given almost £3,000 a year to The East Cheshire Hospice and at the same time provided many hours of entertainment, mainly happy entertainment for the many members of the club.
The staff at The Bridge Hotel were thanked and applauded for a superb dinner with excellent service.
Anthea thanked the past committees for all their hard work. David Bowers gave a vote of thanks. Anthea also looked forward to working with the new committee.
The guests made their way to The Whiteside suite for two and a half hours of fun bridge with prizes.
Christmas cards were on sale for The East Cheshire Hospice and this year raised £311.
Although the bridge club started playing at The Bridge Hotel in 1991, The Village Hall Prestbury is the present meeting venue.
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