Thank you for your patience and support during the last month when the Rothley Centre was closed. We are very relieved and pleased to announce that the Rothley Centre has now accepted our bookings for Monday evenings and Wednesday afternoons commencing June 2nd through to the end of November. Both sessions will be in the Templar Room (the large room); having both sessions there minimises the need to shift tables and chairs as we will be allowed to leave them in place after the Monday night session.

However, we will need to set up the tables and chairs on Monday evenings prior to playing bridge and remove them after each Wednesday session. Any help to do this would be greatly appreciated. The cost of the Monday sessions will remain at £4.00 but the cost of the Wednesday sessions will increase to £3.00 to cover the extra hire costs.

The game of Bridge is a partnership played by two people against two other people.

I have been reminded of this recently while I have been watching the tennis at Wimbledon. Like many of you I have been thrilled by the exciting play on the courts and been struck by the relationship of the doubles players. They communicate so well with each other, both before and during the play. We should remember this when we sit opposite our partners at the Bridge tables. Do we try hard in the bidding to tell our partner as much as possible about our hand, and more importantly recognise what they are telling or asking us and respond accordingly? Then during the play do we watch each other’s signals whether it be attitude or count or discard information? These important clues are what separate the really good players from the rest of us and contribute so much to success whether in declarer play or defence.

Talking of success, the Bradgate B team continue to proceed in the NICKO Plate competition, they played in a beautiful old farmhouse in deepest Worcestershire and won comfortably and are now drawn against Richmond B in the quarter final, good luck for the next battle.

Some of you may remember in the good old days when we were spoilt by the services of Sylvia and Vince in the kitchen. They provided all the refreshments, even knowing some of the regular ‘orders’ and doing all the clearing up afterwards. Sylvia celebrated her 100th birthday on June 21st and is still mentally very sharp and reminisced on those times with Pauline Dignan and Margaret Butterworth who attended the celebration.

Now we have to fend for ourselves and the club very much appreciates all the help from volunteers who regularly turn up and take turns to be the ‘tea monitors’ on Monday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. Likewise the many others who keep the club running, whether collecting the money, acting as directors or hosts or doing the scoring. We also need help to put out the tables etc and then put everything away again. So if you are reading this and can help in any way please come forward and offer your help. Thank you.

Congratulations to Brian and Sheila Stockdale, who achieved an entry in 70% Club on Monday 4th December with 70.14%. They now become the latest holders of the Pam Leeson Trophy.

Full Results

Congratulations to Linda Stone and Phil Watts, who won Patterson Pots which is a single session pairs competition.

Full Results

Congratulations to those members who have achieved a masterpoint promotion.

6 Star Premier Tournament Master

Azam Khan

2 Star Master

Gail Tillen

Club Master

Angela Fielding

County Master

Andy Sattertwaite

District Master

James Thornton