We were saddened to hear of the death of Maureen Bradford on her 81st birthday.

She had been a stalwart of Keighley Bridge Club since the days of the club at Devonshire Street.
Her contributions to the move included repurposing the curtains and making the green table covers which are still in use.
She served on the committee, and for a while as secretary.

Her membership in our Yorkshire leauge teams was very successful.

On a personal note, it was thanks to Maureen that following following bereavement,  I was encouraged to return to bridge, creating to opportunity to meet Mike. Thank you Maureen, we have been married for twenty years, though I still can’t get my head around Crowhurst.

Carole Rattenbury

Moyra Christina Fleming

16th August 1954 - 10th June 2025
 

We are really sorry to hear about the recent loss of Moyra Fleming.

She has been a pleasure to know and her many partners and friends will miss her greatly.
She made a significant contribution to Keighley Bridge Club especially in teams, and lately as a teams selector where her insights have been invaluable.

Her life outside Bridge was focused on cycling, swimming , caravanning and horse riding activities; along with her family.

Carol Anne Jordan

26^th April 1959-27^th March 2025

Carol was a popular member of the Keighley Bridge Club. She joined the club in 2018 after taking lessons at KBC and played her first drive before Christmas same year.

She won the beginners Manning Biles trophy early 2019.

To quote Carol in her own words “Several years ago after much pestering and persuasion from Mick (my husband) I joined Keighley Bridge club. To say this changed my life is a massive understatement. It has proven to be a solid source of community and comradeship for my Golden years. Thank you to all those who took me under their wing and even those who we could not beat at the bridge table. The socials, evenings and days out and wonderful holidays made up for that !”

Carol leaves behind a loving family and friends who will forever remember her smiling countenance and indefatigable spirit.

We will miss Carol.

Judith Biles
1940 - 23rd January 2025

A long standing member and supporter of Keighley Bridge Club. Her work on the committee and as a past President and Trustee contributed to the club you see today.  

Judith played regularly at the club, for Keighley in the Inter City league, and entered many county and national competitions.
She served on the Yorkshire Committee that selected players for the Inter County matches.  

With her friend and partner June, she set up the Manning Biles trophy aimed at new/improving players.
She was kind, encouraging and gave advice with good humour.  In recent years she played on line due to failing health.

Partners all around the country miss the charm and friendship she brought to the game.

We were saddened to hear of the recent death in August 2024 of Mrs. Joan Lang who for many years, including back at the old club location on Devonshire Street, has tidied and cleaned our premises,and served and cleared when we had Team matches or social gatherings.
Many of our members will remember her efficiency and we are grateful for al she has contributed to the running of Keighley Bridge Club.
She leaves Jeff her partner, daughters and grandchildren. Her granddaughter Natalie Wilkinson has agreed to continue in her place. 

PAUL MAXWELL (MAC) VINEY        11th September 1932 - 21st January 2024

Mac and his wife Doreen were some of the original members of Keighley Bridge Club when sessions were held at the Victoria Leisure Centre in an upstairs room. New premises at a terraced house in Devonshire Street were bought with some of the finance provided by members like Mac and Doreen, who became ‘Life Members’. Their finance being paid back when possible. Mac was involved with the purchase of the current club at the current location at Clock View Street, Utley.

Mac was a good bridge player. and a very likeable character. With Alan Morton as a long-term partner, they played what was described as a ‘bastardised’ version of the Blue Club system favoured by the Italian international Team (Squadra Azzura). They probably would not have recognised it.  They also played the Canape system which meant bidding the shorter of two suits first !  They often played in it instead of their long suit fit.    All this confused the opposition.   Mac's daughter, Sarah, said that she could never understand about them arguing about a hand played three weeks earlier with each one blaming the other for a wrong bid or not playing the right card.

Mac's career was as a Maths teacher.  When Treasurer of the Club, he once made a small error in the accounts. When it was mentioned, he said “Mathematics was my subject, not Arithmetic”.

Mac retired early from work, and unfortunately a few years ago had to stop playing at the Club.

He had been devoted to his wife, Doreen, who has Dementia. While waiting to go to live in a care home with her, he had a stroke and died in hospital at the age of 91.

He will be missed greatly by his family.

The funeral of Mac Viney was held on 12 February 2024 and was attended by several Keighley Club members.  
 

John Mulligan.

John Mulligan, who played regularly with his partner Pat Tankard in our Wednesday evening sessions, sadly died on November 13th 2023 after a short illness.

John was a true Yorkshire Man, having been born in Barnsley where he attended the local Grammar School, leaving to take his HNC in Technical Drawing and Engineering, then spent most of his working life in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Leeds University. His attention to detail to all things mechanical was reflected in his thoughtful approach to bridge and in his quiet encouragement to beginners of the game.

He was also a member of Ilkley, Skipton and Settle Bridge Clubs and since Covid had enjoyed Settle’s Tuesday evening on-line sessions.

He was an excellent golfer while also playing hockey, badminton and table tennis. More recently he had confined his sporting activity to croquet, playing at Earby Croquet Club and also with Craven u3a.
He and Pat shared a love of music and enjoyed attending the u3a Popular Music group.

He will be sadly missed.

Ranbir Kapur. 

For many years Ranbir was an enthusiastic member of Keighley Bridge Club enjoying the social aspect as much as the bridge. He contributed to the barbeque each year as well as many Christmas parties etc. 

Many members enjoyed holidays he helped to plan also social bridge sessions at his house, he always had a good bottle of wine on Wednesday evenings too.
Unfortunately, Covid put a stop to that for Ranbir and he ended his life in a nursing home.

He recounted that as a child he and his family had take that horrendous journey during Partition, from Pakistan to India and eventually came to England where he became a successful business man.

Everyone who remembers him agrees that he was a gentleman, always had a big smile and was a pleasure to spend time with.

Ranbir sadly died on 7th. September 2023 aged 89.
Rest in peace.