It is with sadness that we announce the death of John Pingree on Monday 11th December.   John has been a member and regular player for many years in both duplicate and team events at the Club.  In more recent years, he played weekly online as well as in our team competitions.  Our thoughts go out to John's family and friends at this time.    

It is with great sadness that we report that Jack Lowe passed away on 18th December 2023. He was a very longstanding member of Bolton and played regularly and taught bridge to many of our members. A gentleman and a lovely man, he will be sadly missed. Our condolences go to his family.   

It is with sadness that we announce the death of Paul Williams in early December 2023. Paul had been a member and regular player at Bolton BC and Wigan BC and played just a couple of weeks back at the club. He and his wife Hilda were a top Lancashire partnership for many years representing the club and county at the highest levels. He will be sadly missed.

We are sorry to tell you that former member, Yvonne Nicholson has died.    Yvonne was a very regular attendee of the afternoon games for many years and will be remembered by many.   

We are sad to report that a Bolton member Sandra Leatherbarrow has passed away. 

It is with sadness that we have to announce that Des King died on 2^nd June.     Des had played a significant role within the Club for a large number of years.    He acted as a Tournament Director and also represented the Club in matches at a high level - both County and Nationally.   For many though he will be remembered for his teaching skills.   He ran our Beginners Lessons for a number of years and many of our current Members went through his classes.     He was a larger than life character and a great ambassador and advocate for the game of bridge - he will be very sadly missed by his many friends.  

We are very sorry to announce that Doris Hill has died.  Doris had been a Member for many years and played a very active role in the Club.  This was recognised a few years ago when she was made a Life Member of the Club.   Our condolences go to her family and her many friends.   She will be very sadly missed.   

We are very sorry to announce that Christopher Quegan died this week. Chris was a longstanding member and very supportive of the club in many ways.   He served on the Committee from 2006 and although running his own accountancy business full time,  he acted as Treasurer and extensively helped with the books for many years.   He was made an Honorary Life Member in 2021 in recognition of his considerable contribution to the Club.   He will be very sadly missed by his many friends at the Club and we send our sincere condolences to his wife Sylvia and all his family.   

We are very sorry to announce that Bill Oldbury died in February this year.    Bill was a very long standing Member of our Club having joined in 1973.  He served on the Committee for a number of years and was a Past President.   He was very supportive of the Club in many ways, playing in matches and latterly offering to act as a permanent Host on Monday evenings when we were able to reopen after Covid restrictions were eased last summer.     He will be very sadly missed by his many friends at the Club and we send our sincere condolences to all his family.

We are sorry to announce the death in mid January of John Wilson, a bridge player for many years who became a member of Bolton BC in recent years.  John played much of his bridge online over the last two years.  Our thoughts and condolences go to his widow, family and friends.

We are sad to advise that we have been informed that Keith Hindley has died.   We do not know the exact date of his death but understand is was sometime last year.   Whilst he was not a Member latterly he had been one for many years and will be well remembered by many.   

We have also been advised that Ian Clemmitt has sadly died.    Ian was a Member of both Bolton and Chorley Bridge Clubs.  He usually played on a Tuesday night at Bolton and will be remembered as someone who was unfailingly polite and a gentleman.  He was very well respected and liked.   

Our condolences go to both of their families and friends.

We are very sad to advise you that JOAN CHEADLE died yesterday evening - 20th December 2021.   It is hard to believe we were only celebrating her one hundredth birthday last January.    A long time member of the Club she was a very regular onine player and latterly had returned to playing face to face bridge in the Club on Tuesday afternoons.   She was a wonderful lady, well loved by so many,  and she will be very sadly missed by everyone.   Our condolences go to all her family and her many friends.   

It is with sadness that we have to advise you that GEOFF ESSERY died over the weekend (11/12 December).   He was always a gentleman and had many friends in the Bridge Club and he will be very sadly missed.   Our condolences go to all his family and friends.

Brian Ripley had been a member and regular player at our Club for over 40 years before he passed away this Tuesday 9th November 2021.  Brian played bridge in competitions across Lancashire, as well as at our Club, and in the last two years MrBeeJay was often seen playing online games, particularly following his move to be nearer family in the South West.     A quality bridge player, quiet man and wonderful character, Brian would offer helpful suggestions to opponents, but was always more critical of himself than of others.  Our thoughts and sincere condolences go to all his family and friends.

Mary Ashworth who was in her hundredth year died on Monday 1st November   She was a lovely lady and a keen bridge player.  Very well liked by everyone who knew her she will be sadly missed.    Our sympathy and sincere condolences are extended to all her family and friends.

Sadly we report that Diana Ackerman has passed away after a short stay in hospital towards the end of November 2021. Diana was a Bolton club member in the 1980s and 1990s and also more recently renewed her membership. She had success at the club and at County level representing Lancashire on several occasions. Our condolences to all her family and friends.

We are very sad to report that after a period of ill health in recent years, Austin Barnes passed away on Friday 25th June 2021. Austin was a long standing member of Bolton Bridge Club where he assumed a lot of responsibility particularly for the 10 years from 2007 when he was both President (CEO) and Club Tournament Director. He was a prominent contributor in every aspect of the management and administration of Bolton Bridge Club.

Austin had been playing bridge in Lancashire since 1972 and had served the Lancashire County in various capacities from 2005 until 2018. He was Chairman of Selectors from 2005-2010 and again from 2013-2015. He was Vice Chairman prior to serving as Chairman from 2007-2010. With vast experience as a top county player and, indeed, a national one (he represented Wales in the Camrose), as a tournament director and as a club administrator he was an invaluable member of the Executive Committee, taking responsibility for putting together the LCBA Handbook each year. He was an excellent Honorary Tournament Director in several LCBA competitions over the years when the occasion demanded. Click Almost Fifty Years as Dummy for memories by Rod Greenhalgh and Stuart Norris

We are sorry to report the sudden death on 9th June of Val Robson at the age of 84. Val was married to Denis Robson in 1959.  They set up home in the Bury area and had five children, Alison, Jacqui, Nicole, Robert and John of whom only John plays bridge.  Denis was a former EBU chairman and top player in North West Bridge area for many years. Val was a keen player, but only played more seriously when Denis gave up top class bridge.  They often played at Bolton and in the first division of the Fylde league.

Our condolences to Denis and family.

Stanley Woods swapped farming the Cumbrian fells for his favourite seat in the window of the downstairs playing room, where he could be found for many years playing multiple times a week until his health meant he had to move closer to his supportive family.  Stan passed away on the 6th January 2021 after falling and spending a short period in hospital.  Our thoughts and sympathy go to his family and friends. 

Brian Dawson was a member of Bolton Bridge Club for many years and enjoyed playing duplicate, social and team events.  A good player who set himself high standards, Brian was always a worthy opponent.  Illness over recent years had limited his opportunities to play and he passed away on 6th January 2021 after a few days in hospital. Our thoughts and sympathy go to his family and friends.

John Kohorn enjoyed playing bridge regularly at Bolton for many years.  A gentlemen at the table, John was a good and competitve player who was always keen to understand how he could have played each hand better.  John's health had suffered over recent months and he passed away peacefully on 14th January 2021.  Our thoughts and sympathy go to his family and friends.

Nancy Hill who died 28th January 2021 had been a regular player and supported of our Club over many years, before she moved to a care home more recently.  Our thoughts and sympathy go to her family and friends.

Peggy Gordon passed away in May 2021, aged 90. Peggy had and her family have had long association with the Club, and Peggy was Secretary for many years.  Our thoughts and sympathy go to her family and friends.

Chris Maden who passed away peacefully in April 2021.  Chris was a regular player in our social bridge sessions with his gentle and polite manner.  He continued to play throughout his illness over recent months.  Our thoughts and sympathy go to Jean, and their family and friends. 

Val Robson died on 6th June.    Val had been a member for many years.  Our thoughts and sympathy are with her family.

We remember a number of our members who sadly passed away this year. Our condolsences and thoughts go out to their family and friends:

Dr Nilratan Ghosh enjoyed playing bridge, and was a regular afternoon attendee at Bolton Bridge Club before he passed away in the Hospice in early May.  

John Ashworth had been a member of Bolton Bridge Club for a large number of years before he passed away in hospital on Sunday 24^th May.  He will be remembered as a keen and experienced player, a Committee Member, Tournament Director, keen opponent and bridge partner. Committed to competitive play he was always willing to play in league matches, team events, competitions of any kind whether at the club or outside events and he actively encouraged other members to take part as well, often acting as chauffeur for away events.

Special Message  I would like to thank so many of John's friends from the bridge club for the cards and letters of condolence which I received during this sad time.   He was a wonderful, unassuming gentleman, loved by lots.   Catherine Ashworth

Ken Brookes will be known to  many who play on Thursday afternoons as a gentle, quiet and polite man, and regular attendee at the Club.  In recent times Ken has suffered with a heart condition and hadn't been in the best of health before his untimely passing away this month.   

We have heard that past Member Lance Bloohn died on the 28th May 2022.   We have no further details at the moment.