| Farewell to Alan Hourd |
We are greatly saddened to report that one of Norfolk’s longest-standing bridge players died at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital as a consequence of Covid.
Alan Hourd was a longstanding member of ABC, as well as the N&N, Noverre and Wymondham.
His bridge partner of many years Margaret Motch says she is devastated: “It’s very sad news about Alan. I’m so shocked because we played together for so long.”
Alan spent a couple of weeks in the N&N with Covid and was discharged but, unfortunately, had to be re-admitted when he contracted pneumonia brought on by Covid. He died on Monday 15 August.
This report will be updated and circulated again via email when funeral details are available - which they now are. See below:
Dear Friends and Family Members,
Alan Hourd passed away in Hospital on August 15th 2022, Aged 87 years.
Alan's funeral service will be held at Woodland Hall, Colney Wood, on
Saturday September 10th at 10am. Family flowers only, and non-formal
clothing please. Donations to the Alzheimer's Society - in memory of
Alan's mother - should be sent to Gordon Barber Funeral Home, 2 St
Williams Way, Thorpe St Andrew, NR7 0AW. Please let me know if you wish
to attend the funeral so we are able to share an idea of numbers (Tracey
Spinner, tbirdspinner@gmail.com, 07970289643).
If you are unable to attend the funeral in person, please make use of
the webcast facility to join us for the funeral.
Link: https://watch.obitus.com/C6WruS
Username: yozi3858
Password: 378982
Following on from the funeral, Alan's friends are invited to join Marco
and Tracey (the brats) Tony (the brother) and Alex and Jana (the
grandchildren) at 2 Highfield Avenue, Brundall, NR13 5LE - to celebrate
his life and share their favourite stories.
Regards
Tracey Spinner (nee Hourd)
Marco Hourd
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| Are we nearly there yet? |
Every parent's unfavourite question from little voices on the back car seats now keeps cropping up in bridge clubs, schools, homes, hospitals and workplaces. Is Covid finally on the way out? Are we nearly there yet?
ABC Chairman Sarah Chamberlin said: “It’s such a joy to see people and catch up. I really hope that clubs like ours will take off again in 2022, especially as we play in the afternoons.”
With most restrictions now lifted – whether or not you agree with the timing - we thought it right to update you on what's happening at ABC and how the past nearly two years have affected the club.
Well, we are still here playing online via RealBridge on a Wednesday afternoon and Face-to-Face at the Costessey Centre on Thursday afternoons. Wednesday numbers are reasonable – averaging over nine tables during January. Face-to-Face is more disappointing and so far we are not covering costs, which is not a situation which can continue indefinitely.
The Stafford Hall is huge and airy and an ideal location for returning as safely as possible to Face-to-Face bridge. We play with windows open. Why not give it a try and see how you feel about it? Omicron appears to be peaking and we are optimistic that, week on week, more of us will feel confident enough to meet again.
Also most of us have taken to playing RealBridge during Covid and we have every intention of continuing to play online on Wednesday afternoons. The great advantage is that people can join us from anywhere in the country – or indeed the world. We can now claim to be ABC International with members in Sri Lanka and those who join us from their holiday homes in Portugal, France and the Canary Islands!
People have been playing and joining from Yorkshire, Kent, Essex, Warwickshire and Peterborough. Not only that, much-loved club members who have moved away like Paul and Sue Hutchings are able to join us regularly from Sussex.
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| Getting Back to Bridge |
It can all feel rather daunting.
Some of us, for whatever reason, didn't take to playing bridge online. With lockdown and shielding that might mean you haven't picked up a card for two years.
We understand. And we hope we've come up with a solution to ease you back gently into the game we love. The ABC committee has members on standby to partner you and help you get your confidence back up again. It's like riding a bike. Give it a try and it will all come back to you - and we promise not to get impatient if it's a slow process!
Just go to the bottom right Find a Partner item on this page and say you need a Back to Bridge partner.
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| NCBA ..... forthcoming County Events |
The popular Barclays Bank Trophy will be held at the Costessey Centre on Sunday 4 December starting at 11.00 am. Qualifying heats are being held through local clubs. The ABC will be holding its Barclay qualifier on Thursday 10 November.
For all other County and other events of interest visit the NCBA webside Norfolk Contract Bridge Association, Norfolk, England (bridgewebs.com)
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| Play Bridge in Norfolk - or PBIN for short |
There's now one website where you can find all you need to know about playing bridge in Norfolk.
It's got info on everything from teaching in schools, U3A, fast track learning, individual tuition and clubs from easy starters to county level. Plus links to the EBU, NCBA and EBED and the low-down on the county's affiliated and non-affiliated clubs.
So, if you've just moved to Norfolk and are interested in learning bridge from scratch or improving or awakening your skills, you know where to go. PBIN's primary aim is to get more people playing in clubs - but their secondary objective is just encouraging more people to learn and play wherever! Tea and cake in the kitchen anyone?
Click here to find out all about it.
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