The Gullick Cup is awarded to the club's pairs champions in memory of John Gullick, the club’s founder.

John was was an amazing man. He had very grandiose ideas for Wimbledon Bridge Club.  He wanted it to be like the Gentlemen’s Clubs in Mayfair one of which his father had owned.  After starting a beginner’s club at St John’s Church Hall in Spencer Hill, he looked around for more suitable premises.  John taught a couple of members who are still at the club today.  He found he could hire the Scout Hall for one night a week on Thursdays, and such was the club’s success that he persuaded the Scouts to lease us the hall permanently.  This was in 1986. 

John’s philosophy throughout was that the Club should have a friendly atmosphere, good manners and comfortable surroundings.  All members were to be treated alike and with politeness (although when he played with his wife Elizabeth this rule was often broken)!  He also insisted men wore ties at every session, and he frowned on the wearing of shorts.  He was however, no model of smart dress himself, usually wearing a frayed jacket and looking rather scruffy.  At all times he had a cigarette dangling out of his mouth. 

He organised foreign holidays for the club all before the internet made it as easy as it is now.   He had to ensure the hotel had sufficient tables and cards, and he stayed up in the bar after the session and scored all the travellers by hand.  

John was very much a one off and a very kind and helpful man.  His legacy very much lives on at the club.

Jim Bochsler worked tirelessly for the club over the years, as a Director, as Treasurer, as Chairman and as a Committee Member. He donated the cup to the club and has been the proud winner of it several times. Jim died in 2014.

This cup was named after the late Jim Ratcliffe.

Jim was one of our main directors and a maths teacher at the Holy Cross Convent School in New Malden. His mother, Jackie, also played at the club, until moving to Devon shortly after he died. Always happy and cheerful, he would accommodate any number of people, late or not. He worked tirelessly for the club and was a pleasure to have around. He died very young of a brain tumor, and is sadly missed, but warmly remembered by the club even now.

This trophy was donated to the club by Joan Peel.

Geoffrey and Joan were founder members of the club, who moved to Cheltenham some years ago, but we are fortunate to have players of such quality back with us again at the club. Ironically this was the only competition that Joan has (so far) failed to win!

Jean Bartlett and her husband, Chris Bartlett are both founder members of the club, and Jean is a former Chairman, and session Director.

The Bartlett Bowl was presented to the club by Jean Bartlett to mark her years as Chairman of the club in its early days, covering the period of its transition from a Proprietor's club to a members' club and dealing with the many necessary changes, including the writing of the revised Constitution. Jean wanted to give something different from the traditional cup, something which could be used by the recipient. i.e. as a fruit bowl or for a flower display, rather than just being displayed  in a trophy cabinet. She also liked the idea of an alliterative title. It is one of our most beautiful trophies.

Felix Karlsen was introduced to the club by our founder John Gullick. He taught bridge here for many years. He died many years ago, but is still warmly remembered by all that knew him.

“Martin was my bridge partner for several years at WBC and I never knew him to criticise or argue with another player. He was always extremely courteous and gentlemanly, was a pleasure to play with, very generous with the time he gave voluntarily to WBC and a great asset to the club.” – Martin McDonald.

Gwyneth was a very good bridge player and together with her husband Stuart won many national and local events.

Gwyneth was a highly regarded and very patient teacher of bridge who introduced many of our present members to the game. She sadly died of cancer in her prime. This event has been named after Gwyneth in recognition of her contribution to the teaching and development of new players at WBC.

Hetty, one of our original members, worked hard for the club, and directed many of our afternoon sessions. She was a firm believer of the Individual event and could always be found playing in that session on a Monday evening.

When the Individual became an annual competition she donated this cup to the club.  Any rank of player, even those who have never played competition bridge before, will enjoy this light hearted event.

This Blue Pointed, Swiss Pairs event was first held in October 2022, in memory of long serving manager, Marietta Andree.  Marietta was a great fan of the Swiss pairs format as it allows players of all standards to compete on a level field.

Tribute to Marietta

This competition was set up to raise money for local charities, close to the hearts of our members.

Dee Miles and Geraldine Helsey won the competition in its first year and donated the salver to the club.  Geraldine died of cancer soon after.  Many people will remember Geraldine and her surgeon coming to the club to give a demonstration of how she was being fed her drugs through a pipe.  Dee Miles played at the club up until a couple of years ago, when she went into a home, near to where her daughter lived. She died last year.

This competition is held every year, on a Sunday in November. It is a light  hearted event open to all members and their visitors. There are raffle prizes, an auction and a delicious home made afternoon tea. Come along, enjoy the fun and raise some money for charity.

When the original salver was lost, Scott Mitchell donated a replacement and the winners of Charity Pairs are now awarded the Scott Mitchell Salver.  Scott was a very fine bridge player, winning prestigious events over the years, and was a long-standing and well loved member of Wimbledon bridge club where he had lots of friends.  He was a regular at Wednesday Ploughman's as well as other sessions.  Scott was very kind, always had a ready smile, loved the opera, film and musical theatre and his daily crossword.

Malcolm was a major figure in the world of Classics being a professor at Oxford and later founding the Classics department at Lancaster University.
He played bridge to a very high level, and is fondly remembered at the Club for his characteristic modesty and good manners.  He took over as Chairman at short notice when he was approaching 80, and was one of the kindest and most popular Chairmen in the Club’s history.

Bill Medd took up  bridge seriously after retiring from his position as General Physician at Kingston Hospital. He enjoyed the competitive element in the game and was a most agreeable partner to several of the members. He and Valerie Lane particularly enjoyed the Monday lunch time sessions and, to encourage more members to play at that time in the week, he presented a cup and board. However, the cup is now presented for another event. After many years as a loyal member of the club he and Julia retired to Dorset to be nearer their family and to enjoy fishing for salmon, which was his enduring passion, with some of his grandchildren.

“I met Doreen Charteris many years ago at a Ploughman’s session at Wimbledon Bridge club. Whilst opposing her at the table one day, she asked me if I would partner her at a future Ploughman’s and we began to play regularly at this session.

Distinctive in her dress and hairstyle, Doreen won many cups and competitions and was a regular on the Congress circuit with her partner and friend Marie Horlock.

Doreen was a staunch member of WBC and part of her legacy to the Club has helped to buy a new trophy, which is to be awarded annually in her name. I am proud to have been counted as one of her friends and I miss her dearly.”          - Billie Stephens

Robert Pope was a fine gentleman who worked for WBC as Manager for a number of years. He was an immaculately turned out and highly organised person.  He was also a lovely bridge partner. He was a sincere and hard working manager who did his work in a very quiet, diligent and efficient manner. He was very helpful to all members and was able to tackle any problem with a professional approach. He was available every day of the week at the club and his affable nature made him very popular with members. Unfortunately, he had to give up his job due to ill health. His contribution to our club was immense and can never be forgotten.