This is where we fondly remember members of Farnborough Bridge Club who have given exceptional service to the club, to the game of bridge, or both.  You are all much missed.

This page is a work in progress.  We have made a start with some of the more recently deceased members whose biographies are published on the KCBA website, but we are happy to amend these entries and add more.  Please can anyone who would like us to amend or add to these entries email the details to us at FarnboroughBridge@gmail.com.  Thank you.

Anthony Dixon Clark was born 26 July 1945 in Sheffield. His mother was a keen rubber bridge player and she taught Tony to play when he was 12, but his interest did not take off until later.

Tony studied at Cambridge University and while there he met Steve Burton a fellow under-graduate and they formed a bridge partnership which lasted fifty years.

Tony & Steve partnered each other in the 1970 European Junior Championships playing for Great Britain where the team finished tenth. In October 1972 Steve & Tony played in the Camrose trials finishing first out of 28 pairs. This result ensured that they played in the Camrose that season & they played against Wales in February 1973. England won the Camrose that year. Steve & Tony also played in the Camrose again in 1974 & 1976.

After leaving Cambridge Tony became a principal lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Science & Technology at the South Bank University in London. He lived for many years in Tonbridge with his wife Christine and two daughters, none of them played bridge though.

In Kent Tony played his club bridge at Farnborough. He regularly played for Farnborough in competitions such as the Corbett Cup and was in the winning team on numerous occasions. He was also part of the Farnborough team which won the Garden Cities in 2001 and 2002.

In later years he regularly played in the KCBA congress with Steve Burton. Playing together they won the Invicta Cup (main pairs) in 2000. He was also successful in the teams winning the Lukey Cup in 2006 & 2011 & Owl Cup (awarded to the runners up) in 2004.

In National competition Tony and Steve also had numerous successes. They were part of the team which won the Silver Plate in 1998. They were also part of the winning team in the Brighton Bowl at the EBU Summer Congress in 1995 and were second in 2002. In 1982 they were in the team which won the Year End London Swiss Teams. They were also part of the Crockfords runners up team in 1980.

When playing in teams competitions Tony and Steve very often included Andrew Thomson as part of the team. Tony and Andrew also regularly played in National competitions with some success for over 20 years. They won the Harold Poster pairs at the Summer meeting in 2000 after being runners up in the year before. They also finished second in the Two Stars in 1998 and won the Easter Pairs in 1994.

Tony and Andrew also represented both Great Britain and England in numerous international competitions. There best result was in 2001 in the European Pairs Championships in Sorrento, Italy where they finished as the best placed British pair.

Tony died April 2022.

Elizabeth Anne Blande was born 11 October 1955 in Bromley, the daughter of Peter & Margaret Eva (nee Jackson) Blande.

Liz over many years worked behind the scenes ensuring KCBA competitions ran smoothly as well as being heavily involved in the website. She started playing bridge in the 1980s and her first two teachers were Richard Burrows and Peter Llewllyn-Jones. She also took up reflexology and passed her exams with honours, which lead her to treating some club members. She was going to join an osteopath in a practice but the business was sold before she could join. Liz was also a member of MENSA & entered one of their bridge events, in which she did well. Another hobby of hers was flower arranging. She also passed her advanced driving test.

When Mike Rafferty was appointed Competitions Secretary in 2012 he & Liz worked very hard in running all the competitions and trying to increase the numbers competing. She was heavily involved in introducing online entries, sending emails to members and so on which led to an increase of entries. In early 2016 Liz took on the extra responsibility of managing the KCBA website, a position she held for over three years until stepping down at the 2019 AGM. During her time in charge there were many developments and updates which Liz successfully introduced.

Farnborough was Liz’s home club & she played there with Mike for over many years. She served as honorary secretary for the club on three different occasions, 2002 to 2004, 2008 & 2009 and then from 2014 to 2017. Liz & Mike for many years duplimated all the boards for Farnborough & were always ready to provide a set at the last minute for a match, together with hand records including name of competition and date. Liz & Mike regularly played in KCBA competitions and they won the Allnutt Cup in 2016. They regularly competed in the Gill Cup and won it for three consecutive seasons between 2012 and 2015, playing with Alan and Gillian Foster, John Hemington & Jennifer Viles. Liz regularly played in the Fleming Femina with Christine Kempton and they had a very good record winning the cup in 2010, 2011, 2018 & 2019. In later years Liz & Mike enjoyed bridge holidays, including playing on several occasions in the Sun Sea & Slams Barbados Bridge Congress with Karen & Malcolm Pryor.

In 2019 Liz was diagnosed with cancer and she sadly died 26 April 2020.

Stephen William Burton was born 15 May 1945 in West Wickham, the only child of William & Helena (nee Glenton) Burton. He was known as Steve.

Steve attended Beckenham & Penge Boys' Grammar School & then read mathematics at St John's College in Cambridge. Whilst at Cambridge he met Tony Clark a fellow under-graduate & they formed a bridge partnership which lasted fifty years. On leaving Cambridge in 1968 Steve spent a term at Dulwich College as part of his teacher training & was then offered a full-time post as a mathematics teacher. He remained at the college until his retirement in 2005. As well as his teaching he also coached the U13 cricket for 20 seasons & U13 rugby for 30 seasons. In addition, he was a keen supporter of the College Scouts attending numerous summer camps and expeditions over the years. Steve & Tony Clark partnered each other in the 1970 European Junior Championships playing for Great Britain where the team finished tenth. In October 1972 Steve & Tony played in the Camrose trials finishing first out of 28 pairs. This result ensured that they played in the Camrose that season & they played against Wales in February 1973. England won the Camrose that year. Steve & Tony also played in the Camrose again in 1974 & 1976. Over the years Steve won many KCBA competitions. He was part of the winning Arnold Cup team in 1996 & 1997 & the Brook Cup in 1993. In 2012 he won the George Griffiths Cup (senior pairs) with Chris Wall. In later years he regularly played in the KCBA congress, generally with Tony Clark. Playing together they won the Invicta Cup (main pairs) in 2000 & Spurway Bowl in 1997. He was also very successful in the teams winning the Lukey Cup in 2006 & 2011 (both with Tony Clark) & Owl Cup (awarded to the runners up) in 2004, 2007 & 2013. In National competition Steve won the Silver Plate twice, in 1995 partnering Anne Rosen & in 1998 with Tony Clark. He was also in the winning Pachabo team in 1996 partnering Anne Rosen. He was part of the winning team in the Brighton Bowl at the EBU Summer Congress in 1995 & was second in 2002, both playing with Tony Clark. In 1982 he won the Year End London Swiss Teams.

Steve played his club bridge in North West Kent area but his main club was Farnborough where he was a member for over fifty years. He held the position of club match captain on three separate occasions. On completion of the bridge Steve would very often enjoy a drink in the local, The Woodman. He played for Farnborough in competitions such as the Corbett Cup for many years & was in the winning team on numerous occasions. Outside bridge Steve was a good chess player. He was also a sound golfer with a good long game & at his peak had a single figure handicap. Steve was a very passionate club cricketer for Wickham Park & captain of the second XI for 20 years. He was a solid batsman & an excellent slip fielder.

Steve died 21 May 2016 at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough.

Michael J de Winter was born 23 March 1932 in Stoke Newington, South London the son of Reginald John & Ena Gwendoline (nee Chivers) de Winter. In September 1939 when the National Register was compiled the family was living in Firs Park Avenue in Edmonton. Mike served in the Royal Air Force where he learnt to play bridge. After leaving the RAF he worked for British Telecom for many years. He married Elizabeth Pack in 1957 in Edmonton.

Elizabeth Ann Pack was born 31 January 1936 in Bromley, the daughter of Leslie John & Eileen (nee Franklin) Pack. In September 1939 Elizabeth was living with her parents at 16 The Crescent in West Wickham. Elizabeth & Mike played their club bridge at Farnborough, Bromley & Beckenham. However, Farnborough was their main club & Mike played there over 50 years.

Mike was first elected to the committee in 1969 & served two spells as chairman in 1971/2 & 1975/6. He then served as honorary treasurer from 1978 until 2004, which was followed by another spell on the committee from 2007 to 2009. After all these years service he was made an honorary life member of the club. Mike was first elected to the KCBA committee in 1986 & served 12 years as county secretary from 1990 to 2002. He then became competitions secretary until retiring from the committee in 2006. He also regularly attended EBU council meetings during his time on the committee. He qualified as a county tournament director in 1991 & directed at a number of events. He also regularly directed at Farnborough & Aces (based in Petts Wood) bridge clubs. Elizabeth & Mike regularly played in KCBA events. They won the Paul Spurway Bowl at the Kent Congress in 1992. In 1983 Mike won the Allnutt Cup playing with his daughter Jennifer. Also, in 2003 Mike won the Dyer Smith cup playing with Carole Cundy.

Mike & Elizabeth had four children who all played bridge. Their son Simon won half a dozen Kent cups including the Brook Shield three times between 1995 & 2000. As mentioned above their daughter Jennifer won the Allnutt Cup with Mike. Amanda & David also played at Farnborough bridge club. In 2005 Mike was awarded the Dimmie Fleming award for his services to Kent bridge. Also, in 2006 Mike was appointed president of KCBA in recognition of his service over the years. Mike was also a keen sports fan especially greyhound racing & then in later years horse racing. He enjoyed visiting Catford stadium for greyhounds & latterly spent many happy days at Lingfield Park. He would often enjoy a flutter at the meetings. Another interest for Mike was table tennis. He played for the Widmore club in Bromley & Beckenham leagues from circa 1965 to 1973. He also served as secretary of the club for a number of years, the club was run by Don Mitchell (another KCBA committee member).

Mike retired from table tennis in 1973 to spend more time playing bridge with Elizabeth. Elizabeth died 13 August 2001. Mike died on 3 July 2019 after a longish illness.

Edward M Nesom was born in 1936 near Northallerton in Yorkshire the youngest son of William Sherwood & Christine Rhoda (nee Edwards) Nesom. In September 1939 when the National Register was compiled the family was living at Church Lane Farm in Hutton Bonville in North Yorkshire, William was recorded as a farmer. Ted married Moya Burrow in 1961 in Bromley. Ted & Moya played their club bridge at Farnborough and surrounding clubs although Farnborough was their main club which they joined in 1971.

Ted was elected to the Farnborough committee in 1971 & then in 1973 he was appointed as honorary secretary a position he held for 28 years until 2001. After a gap of two years he then served on the committee again from 2003 to 2007. Ted & Moya regularly played in KCBA events, in teams events they very often played with Don & Ann Mitchell. Altogether Ted won eight KCBA cups as listed below, seven with Moya. He just missed out on a number of other cups, for example he finished as runner up in the Birkle Bowl twice, in 1991 & 1997. Ted & Moya had a son Andrew who also played bridge. He played in a Junior Camrose match in 1985 & won a number of Kent competitions before moving away from the county. In 2018 Ted was appointed as an honorary Vice President of KCBA in recognition of his services to Kent bridge.

Ted died 22 October 2019.

KCBA cups won by Ted, including year, partner and rest of team where appropriate:-

1982 Owl Cup: Moya Nesom, Andrew Nesom, Andrew Doye

1985 Hunter Homines: D Brown

1995 Arnold Plate: Moya Nesom, Don & Ann Mitchell, Phil Brayton

1994 Brook Shield: Moya Nesom, Don & Ann Mitchell, Phil Brayton

2004 Brook Shield: Moya Nesom, Don & Ann Mitchell, Henry Greenberg, Tony Conway

2005 Brook Shield: Moya Nesom, Don & Ann Mitchell, Henry Greenberg, Tony Conway

2001 Gill Cup: Moya Nesom, Don & Ann Mitchell, Henry Greenberg, Tony Conway

2005 Gill Cup: Moya Nesom, Don & Ann Mitchell, Henry Greenberg, Tony Conway

Christopher Milbourn Wall was born 8 June 1946 in Stanmore, the only child of Donald and Marjorie Wall. He was known to all as Chris. Chris grew up in Harrow. A grammar school boy, he went on to read Mathematics at Exeter University followed by a year at Oxford where he met his future wife, Cherry. He subsequently married Cherry (Peta Cheryl Grant) in Birmingham in 1970. Chris and Cherry had two children, Jonathan and Julia. Sadly Cherry passed away in February 2005.

On leaving Oxford in 1968 Chris took up a post at Dulwich College teaching Mathematics. He started on the same day as Steve Burton, another Kent bridge player. Chris remained at the college for nearly forty years before retiring to nurse his wife. In addition to teaching Chris also coached cricket and rugby during his time at Dulwich. In his younger years he was a keen and very talented sportsman. He played tennis at Wimbledon and ran at the White City. He played cricket and rugby to a high standard but to his disappointment never made an appearance at Lords or Twickenham. Chris played bridge regularly for fifteen years. His main club was Farnborough where he served on the committee for four years from 2014 until 2018. One of his chief responsibilities was to ensure that there was a decent wine at the Christmas party, served at the correct temperature! He played for the club in events such as the Corbett Cup and in 2020 was part of the Farnborough team which won the Corbett Plate. He also played in some KCBA competitions. In 2012 he won the George Griffiths Cup (senior pairs) with Steve Burton. Four years later in 2016 he won the Larsky Cup, the main Kent pairs competition, playing with Mike Hampton. They repeated their success in 2019.

Through Farnborough Bridge Club he met Jenny Kerr. She persuaded him to move to Chislehurst and they had more than 10 very happy years together before his untimely death on 14 August 2020. Chris is survived by his children and four grandchildren.