NEWSLETTER No. 12
March 2013
| Welcome to our latest Newsletter. To begin I have had good news and as usual bad news. I was delighted to be contacted by one of our members who obviously, was touched by my pleas for an assistant and who offered her services as a sub-editor. Fantastic!
However this turned out to be Cassie who as you know, is leaving these shores to live in the Czech Republic. Hopefully modern technology makes communication possible and I hope she will be able to remain my sub-editor.
I hope so as she has some good ideas.. We shall see………
COMMUNICATION
As some of you will know our weekly results and other information is published in the Rugby Advertiser and Rugby Observer every week. Three brave scribes take time to do this on a monthly rota. You may have seen a very different style of presentation over the last few months. A discussion has taken place as to the content of the reports and the scribes would be interested to know what information members would like to see in the newspapers.
In particular should we publish the names of all winners at all our sessions? One of the team feels that lots of people friends and family not just RBC members, look to see who has been successful. Another thinks it just make the report boring .Bearing in mind that in all case we are subject to what the newspaper editors have space for within their columns.
Current Club news can always be found on the Rugby Bridge Club website which is on: www.bridgewebs.com/rugby
Liz Edwards is the editor of this website so if you have any stories or items that you want to send to her for inclusion on the website, please contact her
If you are interested in playing a part in the Rugby Bridge Club communications team for either the newsletter or weekly news updates to the local papers please contact me,
MEMBERS’ CORNER
We are delighted to welcome Margaret Mercer, Jacquie Green, John Tolbutt, Peter Baines and Richard Smith to Rugby Bridge Club.
Happy Bridging.
OBITUARIES
MARGARET BIAS
We were all deeply saddened by the passing of Margaret Bias.
Margaret was a delightful, intelligent, caring and very thoughtful
person. She was a fighter and was very brave to the end.
She loved her bridge and found enormous strength in the support of all
her friends at the Bridge Club. We are sure this helped her in her last
year of illness.
She will be missed by everyone. Our kindest wishes are sent to her husband Charlie and we are happy that they had the chance to share their 50th wedding anniversary together.
Anne Carrington
ROD LARTER
Rod Larter died on 20th January 2013 and he will be missed by his many friends at Rugby Bridge Club.
To me he was a man of two halves. Firstly he was the successful entrepreneur with a loving wife Veronica and two beautiful daughters. His business began after an idea put to his employers was not taken seriously – so he went it alone. At one time he travelled the world in search of the precious metal to be found in old batteries but gradually as the need to earn a living lessened he cut down his travelling until it became more of a hobby as was his playing the stock market and his interest in genealogy and photography.
Secondly he was a sociable man and this eventually put him in touch with the bridge world. The first time I met him we played the game of ‘What’s My Line’ and as expected I got it wrong. It was here at his favourite drinking hole that he was introduced to Rubber Bridge where for many years on a Monday evening he played convivial pub bridge. The Friendly Inn was also a meeting place for several members of the Rugby Bridge Club and therefore it was a natural continuation of his bridge interest that we eventually came along to Rugby to experience duplicate bridge. He was quite a competitive player and he would encourage me to swot up from Klingers ‘Better Acol Bridge’ and we would try to put this knowledge into practice at the bridge sessions. We did have a little success when we won the Troughers Trophy and I remember he was very keen to take it home to show it off to the famil together with any press cuttings where he had been mentioned. Later he partnered Anne Carrington at the Tuesday sessions and again he was very keen to make a success of it and this they did on many occasions. Rod enjoyed going on holidays with his Bridge Buddies , which included trips to the Czech Republic, Spain and several bridge breaks. He was always keen to join in any group activities and therefore it was noticed by Anne, Patti and Roger that on his last bridge holiday, which was to St Annes in November of 2011 he preferred to stay at the hotel instead of take in the delights of the nearby Blackpool Tower and other sights. Being a very private man he told no one of his illness, but just disappeared off the scene that Christmas. He fought bravely through his illness for six months and we were all so pleased to see him return to the bridge table, but this was short lived and the cancer reappeared. He was readmitted to Leicester Hospital on 16th October, his 67th birthday, but unfortunately his body was so weakened that he was unable to fight the illness. Veronica told us that he passed peacefully away at home on 20th January but ‘Death is Nothing at All’, as the poem goes, which was read out at Rod’s funeral and therefore we will think and speak of him as usual, as our friend.
Judith Kleiner
Other members who are making every slam that they now bid are Bill Tack who passed away in December. Bill with his wife Jill was a regular at St Andrew Clun and on Friday afternoons at Clifton. We were also sad to learn of the death of Fred Warne a member some years ago and the father of Stuart. Our sympathies go to their families and friends.
AMBER
Amber my Labrador cross, was Rugby Bridge Clubs’ mascot who sadly she passed away on 24th January. She loved coming to bridge on Friday afternoons, and knew when I drove down the A5 to Clifton that she was going to see Sandra (the Caretaker) and everyone at bridge. Sandra always gave her chews. Amber loved meeting and greeting all the players and especially enjoyed the biscuits they gave her. Her usual place was lying flat out, in front of the heater sleeping.
Her first mascot duty included being photographed with Friday afternoon players when Chris Malthouse, handed over a cheque to charity. We all trooped across to the Church Gate and sat on the grass. Amber was in her element.
She will be sadly missed.
Anne Carrington
On a happier note you will be delighted to hear that Jane Smith after a long courtship (actually 25 years) is to marry. No ring yet but as Jane says ‘he’s a Yorkshireman’.
Congratulations Jane and John.
ANNUAL DINNER
Our Annual Dinner was originally planned for Friday 18th January.
However, due to the icy and snowy weather conditions, it was decided to
postpone it. This caused a cacophony of telephone calls to cancel
everybody followed by a galaxy of emails when the new date was
arranged to find out who was still going and who wasn’t and which new
people were now coming to the dinner.
Our re-arranged Annual Dinner was held on Friday 8th February at the
Dun church Park Hotel. This year it was decided to have music played so
that people could dance if they wished. We had an enjoyable dinner
after which Peter Langley made his speech and Freddie told a few jokes.
This was followed by some people dancing to the music, which he had
researched. It was a good opportunity for people to socialise and a
very good evening was had by all
Anne Carrington
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
JULIA MILLS TROPHY
April 7th is the date for the Julia Mills Trophy all-day event. As most of you will know this is a charity event in aid of the Northamptonshire and Warwickshire Air Ambulance and will be held at the Railway Club, Hillmorton Road beginning at 2pm
The supper is a highlight of the day and is provided by club members. Janet and Wendy will be delighted to receive donations of salads, quiches, puddings etc and offers of help with serving and clearing-up. Chips a speciality of the Railway Club will be offered!
This is a most enjoyable day for a very worthwhile cause. If you would like to play please contact Chris Malthouse.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the club will take place on Tuesday 21st May starting at 7pm.
The proposed new constitution has been published on the website and those of you without access will be receiving a hard copy. Any proposed changes must be with the Secretary by 9th April and the membership must be advised of any such changes by 21 April.
RUGBY AND DISTRICT LEAGUE SUMMER EVENT
This will take place at The Ex-Service Men’s Club on Sunday 9th June starting at 2pm.
Teams of four will enjoy a great bridge day with food, a raffle and EBU points.
For more information go to www.bridgewebs.com/rugbyleague or contact Jane Carrington.
RRUBBER BRIDGE TOURNAMENT 2013
The Rubber Bridge Tournament will take place again between May and September during the league’s close season. It has grown well from just 4 pairs in 2010 to 39 pairs in 2012. Let’s go wild and top the 50 mark this year!
It is a fun event(s) involving several bridge clubs and quite a few of the non-club players locally. It raises considerable sums for our charity, Myton Hospice, as well as promoting friendliness to other players and quite a lot of pleasure to those participating.
It is run rather like the FA Cup. Pairs enter and are drawn against another pair where the winners proceed to the next round. There is a trophy for the final winners. The pattern in the past has been:-
2010 4 pairs
2011 19 pairs
2012 39 pairs
2013 the aim is for 50 pairs - which would raise £500 for Myton
Hospice. To date I have 26 pairs signed up but I've not yet badgered
everyone and the tournament doesn't start till mid-May so I'm still
hopeful/expectant of achieving the target.
Please contact Terry Bradbury at winesof.quality@virgin.net or 01788-890556 for more details or to register your pair for this year’s first round draw.
CHARITY BRIDGE DRIVE
A Charity Bridge Drive organised by the Inner Wheel Club of Rugby will take place at The Sacred Heart R C Church Hall on the 30th May,
Coffee will be served from 10.00 a.m. Lunch of two courses with wine and coffee will be served at 12.45p.m. The prize presentation will be about 3.50pm.
The cost is £15 per person.
The event is being held in memory of our President Jane Leaviss and the proceeds will go to her charity CANCER RESEARCH UK
For more information please contact Kate Taylor kate.taylor@virgin.net, 01788 812481.
ROD LARTER MEMORIAL EVENT
Some of you may be aware that Cassie and Petr are organising a bridge event in the Czech Republic for the week-end of 9th to 11th September to commemorate Rod’s first visit to the region three year’s previously. Veronica, Rod’s wife, says that “he would love to have joined you” and we can vouch for the great pleasure he took in his visit to this area full of history and vine-yards.
There is a short brochure available, which gives basic information so that Petr and Cassie can get an idea of numbers of people interested.
The programme is still fluid but non-playing partners are welcome and there will be some visits to places of interest in the area which, of course, will mean some wine cellars!
Flights are available to Brno or Bratislava airports and accommodation can been reserved at the village pension.
If you are interested in joining this event please let Cassie or Petr know and they will be able to share with you the outline programme and provisional travel arrangements.
Sue Osborne /Wendy Pattinson can also provide details.
EDITOR’S COMMENTS
You may not know but the club sends cards and flowers to members and their families when appropriate, but we rely on information from members and sometimes we may miss an important event, illness, significant birthdays, anniversaries, weddings etc. If anyone learns of an occasion when a card or flowers would be appreciated please let me know.
May I once again ask for contributions to be made in Times New Roman 12pt . I know it is a somewhat boring font BUT if I receive contributions in the same font and with no emboldening, this consistency makes my life a little easier. Would you also please send contributions as Word attachments. Cassie is working on a completely new format for the newsletter but sadly we have not had time to implement it this time. As you can imagine the newsletter is very time consuming.
On this theme may I urge lots of you to stand for election to the Management Committee. It is healthy to have fresh faces and ideas and also because some committee members are considering standing down (me). As is usual most of the work and there is quite a lot involved in running this club on a voluntary basis is done by the few. The Management Committee would love more members to be involved, if not as a committee member but to undertake other jobs.
My thanks as ever to all who have contributed, Debbie Welch, Judith Kleiner, Terry Bradbury, Anne Carrington and of course to Cassie. This is YOUR newsletter and should reflect your views so please give me something to publish. I sometimes feel I am talking to myself!
Wendy Pattinson
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