John Perry's retirement as Club Secretary after many years' sterling service was marked with the gifting of lifelong Honorary Club Membership, a meal for 2 voucher at the luxury Homewood Spa Hotel, a bottle of John's favourite Rioja and a tribute from the FBC Committee:

John Perry has been a mainstay in the running of Frome Bridge Club for more than 35 years. Without his hard work and dedication, the Club would not be in the excellent state it is in now. John was, and still is, a driving force behind the development of the Club. At one point, the membership declined to just 12 members. As one long-serving member recalls, there were evenings where only eight players attended, just enough for a simple teams competition. A discussion took place about what to do. No-one wanted the club to close, but the income would not sustain paying for room hire. John set about organising a recruitment campaign by promoting lessons which he took himself. This was the catalyst for a steady expansion of the membership. Every year since then, John has run lessons and encouraged others club members to do likewise. His remarkable patience and ability as a teacher has shone through and been an example to us all – he has always been prepared to sit down and spend time with any player, regardless of their aptitude for the game. In recent months, even though his health has not been good, John has carried on with no noticeable reduction in his commitment and effort. It is no exaggeration to say that the success of Frome Bridge Club, now one of the largest in the South West, is largely due to the effort and dedication of, John Perry. We owe him our collective gratitude and thanks.

Some 71 Frome members turned out for the AGM on Thursday 21 May, with John Perry standing down as Club Secretary after many years; Jessica Slater was elected onto the Committee as the new Secretary. The Chairman Ray Nicholson reported that membership had risen from just over 100 to 160 in the past year. The Club Pairs Championship winners for 2025-26 were David Clayton & Richard King; Bill Blakie and Diane Price were announced as Frome Bridge Club Members of the Year, and thanked for their tireless help. The AGM Minutes can now be viewed under AGM Minutes in LH column; likewise the Annual Accounts and updated Club Constitution. 

Thursday morning competitive play now starts promptly at 9.15am. This session is aimed at introducing members to bridge without assistance, and to play within a reasonable timeframe. Unfriendly or unduly aggressive playing will not be permitted. Informal, untimed, assisted play will continue as normal in the other rooms at Wesley Hall, starting at 9.30am.  Meanwhile, Tuesday evening Lesson & Play sessions are now at 6.45 for a 7pm prompt start. Everyone welcome. 

Frome Bridge Club is celebrating its first pair of Ace graded players. Club Chair Ray Nicholson and Committee member David Clayton reached the exalted English Bridge Union rank of Ace within a fortnight of each other in January. First to the post was David when a Monday night Club Pairs score of 76.3% with his bridge partner Richard King lifted his NGS (National Grading Scheme) rank over the Ace of Clubs threshold of 61%; two Mondays later it was Ray’s turn, playing with his regular bridge partner Margaret Donkin. This is the first time in the Club’s history to have two concurrent Ace level players, and their ranking means they are among the top 10 Bridge players in Somerset. David Alsford is the only other Frome player to have previously reached the rank of Ace. David Clayton and Ray both learnt to play bridge in their youth before stopping for many years and then taking it up again. Their key tip for all aspiring Ace level players is to play regularly, with a regular and reliable partner.