Simon Passed away on Tuesday 1st Oct. 2024. I have worked with him since about 2000 when I was Tournament Secretary. He was always willing to help with competition planning particularly the Hurwich helping to set the handicaps. (His team frequently did well). In the years from 2014, when I became Chairman, he was on the committee and was still on the committee when I stepped down in 2023.
Ian Walkerdine
Simon loved to play games of any sort and, as a young boy, he first learned to play bridge with his mother. The love of the game stayed with him for well over fifty years, by which time he had attained the accolade of Grand Master, one of the few in Leicestershire. Simon was a trustee and committee member of our club and, until recently, was also prominent on our teaching committee. He was a long-standing figure within the LCBA and contributed enormously to promoting bridge teaching in Leicestershire. He will be sadly missed by those who knew him.
Judy Hill
Simon's whole life from a young boy right up until the day before he died was characterised by his love of bridge. Even his car registration spelt bridge (almost). He was a very thoughtful player and probably the slowest one in the game. On our travels around the country to congresses or competitions we were often penalised for slow play but that never put him off. He certainly lived up to his Clarendon moniker of sloth. He was well respected as a teacher and a host on bridge holidays and really gave his life not only to playing bridge but in many other supportive ways. He will be missed by so many not only in the bridge world but by all his family and friends.
Alison Nichols
I played a fair bit with and against Simon, particularly in our pub bridge games, and he was always a delight to be around. Simon was a good friend and a kind man - upon hearing I was turning 21 the day after a game in Coventry, he quickly organised a surprise party with many bridge friends then arranged to take me there himself.
Simon took great interest in bridge outside Leicestershire, to the extent that he used to offer his services as a vugraph operator at major events. He would often send supportive messages while I was away at tournaments too.
Simon was crazy about the game. After a hard day at work, it often seemed as though he wanted to stay at home and relax that evening, but he couldn't tear himself away from the green baize. Even when Simon wasn't playing, he would 'think bridge'. We exchanged many emails and texts about bidding problems, conventions and play scenarios.
Simon embraced modern bidding methods and an active opening style (particularly his Lucas Twos), but he clearly had a good grasp of cardplay technique as well. I'll finish, appropriately, with a bridge deal exemplifying this:
10 5
K 2
A Q 9 4 3
K J 10 5
A Q J 7
10 7 4 Q J 6 5 3
K J 6 5 2 10 7
4 2 Q 9 7 6 3
K 9 8 6 4 3 2
A 9 8
8
A 8
Simon was South, playing with his most recent regular partner, Ian Bruce. Simon got a bit carried away in the bidding this time, reaching the dizzy heights of 5S on an uncontested auction. West, Ric Wilde, doubled that, thinking he had three trump tricks sitting over Simon's king. Well, almost.
Simon received a heart lead and, inferring the trump position from the double, proceeded to play the hand with X-ray vision. He won in hand, crossed to the DA (the finesse wasn't needed) and ruffed a diamond. The HK, CK and a heart ruff provided entries for three further diamond ruffs, reducing to this position (the CA had been cashed en route):
10
-
-
J 10
A Q J -
- Q
- -
- Q 9
K 9 6
-
-
-
Simon exited with a low trump from hand, endplaying West to lead away from his AQ of trumps at trick twelve to make the doubled game.
Bravo Simon. You will be sorely missed.
Ben Norton
I shall miss Simon; so many happy memories of congresses, mainly with Ian Bruce and Marjorie Gilbertson, Llangollen and Scarborough in particular. The bridge was enjoyable, sometimes successful, and Simon's skills often responsible for successes, but he was never critical of the mistakes of the rest of us (particularly me), just constructive every now and again. Anyway, there was always the Indian to look forward to on our journey home. Another thank you to Simon…..about 15 years ago I met a chap called Peter on a cruise; rather liked him, but he showed no particular interest in me! At Llangollen I asked Simon and Ian for advice - should I try to keep in contact with Peter - my Mum would always advise against chasing men! Simon said ‘go for it - you've nothing to lose'. I did, and Peter and I are now very happy to be ‘an item' as they say… Thank you Simon!
Pat Watson
Both Gabrielle and I have been most touched and warmed by the kind messages of sympathy at the shock of losing our beloved Simon. Simon was a man who loved life and bridge. I was first introduced to Jim early on in our courtship and then Lawrence Lock (our best man) and Sue and Paul, Jean, Gary, Tony, Irene and everyone else that he loved to play with and latterly Alison, Judy and Lynn. He thought so much of his bridge family and spent many happy hours in their company. It became apparent very early on in our relationship that I was never going to play bridge! But, i was happy to see him excelling in the game he loved. I remember going to Brighton with Lawrence and his then fiancé Jane - they played bridge and we went shopping, then we spied them in this massive room with hundreds of other very serious faces, we were knocking on the window to wave to them, but had no idea that was cheating and got escorted off the premises! Simon was a great teacher of cards. Christmas always involved a new game to learn along with a plethora of board games - a new one every year. He had the patience of a saint teaching my mum any new game and she remembers that with great affection. Indeed when his beloved Gabrielle was nearly ready to make her appearance in this World we spent many happy hours whiling away the time with a pack of cards. Simon latterly became very poorly and despite my best efforts to help he wasn't able to stay with us. He was fed up of medication, doctors, appointments and paraphernalia so we will remember happier times spent together as a family. He always told people I was a good ex wife! Thankyou to everyone at the bridge club for your understanding of how difficult the last 18 months has been. Gabrielle and I wanted to let you know that we appreciate you all. I just guess he was always my King of hearts. Good night Simon and Godbless.
Josephine Stokes
A final word from Judy - Click Here
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