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We are sad to report that Margaret Glover (wife of Tim Glover, our Fixtures Secretary), died peacefully at home on Saturday 20th June.
Margaret was a member of Bradgate Bridge Clubwhen she and Tim first moved to Leicester. She was a founding member of Glenfield Bridge Club, becoming its Chair for several years. She was also a member of Blaby Bridge Club for many years.
Margaret will always be remembered as a friendly and welcoming member of the clubs that she belonged to.
The funeral will be at Gilroes at 1pm on Monday 27th July followed by refreshments at Glenfield Methodist Hall. Please let Tim Glover know if you intend to go as he'd like to have an indication of numbers.
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We are sad to report that Andrew Billson passed away in May. Andrew used to play in our Pairs League (pre-Covid) and attend outr Green Point events. He also had a short spell as one of our County TDs
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Some of you may remember Barbara Swann, who played some time ago and represented Leicestershire with her late husband Geoff. After he died she relocated to Bournemouth several years ago. We have heard from her son that she passed away last week at the ripe old age of 96.
Barbara and Geoff were players in both the Dawes County matches and other LCBA events. Records show that they were regular Leicestershire players by the mid-1970s.
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Ben Norton - A Gold Cup Winner
Congraulations to Ben Norton who was member of Andrew Dyson's Gold Cup winning team in December.
Ben becomes only the third Leicestershire player to win this prestigeous event after Paul Bowyer (1997), and Jim Mason (1999)
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We are very sad to inform you that Susie Perrett passed away on Saturday 11 October. Susie was an active member of Bradgate, County and Loughborough Bridge Clubs and a keen player in LCBA competitions, including the Winter League. She also regularly played for the County in Midlands League matches and enjoyed taking part in Green Point events throughout the Country.
We send our condolences to Susie's family.
John Wilcox of Loughborough Bridge Club has provided this more detailed obituary.
It is with enormous sadness that we heard of the death of Susie on 11 October 2025 after a sudden illness.
Susie was a valued member of the Loughborough Bridge Club (and several others also). Susie joined the Club Committee in May 2016 and served on it ever since. In that role she threw herself into the social affairs of the club, being a mainstay of the many successful Christmas and summer events that raised money for charities. She was always willing to help out with the supply of refreshments on club nights as well. Several chairmen spoke of just how valuable Susie was in making sure that the Committee remained properly grounded, taking proper notice of the general opinions of club members.
Susie and her regular partner Paul Anderson represented the club in the Winter League ever since 2015 and in recent years represented LCBA in the Midlands League. She and he were also regular players in many other regional and national tournaments and Susie had risen to the level of Regional Master as a result.
At the table she was the perfect opponent – likeable, fun and with a great temperament. We will miss her more than words can say. We extend our deep condolences to Susie’s family. Rest in peace Susie.
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Please click on the image above to see the photo album for the AGM.
Thanks to Irene Pacey, our Guest of Honour and Anne Wright, our photographer.
AGM Reports
AGM reports can be found here
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Ray LeVesconte passed away on 4th July, age 97. He was a member of Glenfield Bridge Club and a very active member of Westcotes and County Bridge clubs (regularly directing and providing food and drink for Christmas parties etc.) As recently as March 2017 he and his partner Pam Thorne won the Glenfield prize for the highest score with an impressive 69.96%.
His funeral is at Loughborough Crematorium at 12:30 on Monday 18th August.
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Chairman's News - July 2025
Did any of you play bridge at Blaby bowls club years ago? If so, do you remember that poem on the wall, ‘What kind of member are you?’. This applies to bridge too; we need your help! The EBU have a target to grow membership by 5%. With the age range of our bridge community, this is a tough target, but with your help it can be done in Leicestershire. Lessons are starting County-wide in the autumn. The clubs are busy advertising, but this is expensive and research has shown that the best Marketing is done by word of mouth by all members. Thanks to those clubs who provide a teaching programme, we have already ceased the decline in numbers, now let’s see if we can increase the numbers of players at our clubs. Please, everyone, tell your friends, relatives and neighbours that bridge lessons are starting soon and invite them to come to lessons; you’ll be doing them a favour because learning bridge is fun. 😊
Also, please take a few posters from your club and put one in your local library, and on your local noticeboard, or in your village hall, or at your local bowls, golf or tennis club and place one in your car. If you use Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, please post messages about the lessons.
We can all play a part to help our hardworking bridge committees boost the numbers in our club sessions. If you find someone who wants to return to bridge or start lessons and you are not sure who to contact, you can always pass their details to me and I will forward their details to the relevant person.
We also have vacancies on the LCBA Committee. If you haven’t taken a turn yet, please volunteer. The LCBA AGM will be taking place on 17th September 2025 at County Bridge Club, St Oswalds Road, at 7 p.m. Please pose your questions/requests in advance of that meeting and please volunteer. Possible Vacancies are: Vice Chair, Chair, General Secretary, Winter League Controller.
Meanwhile the results of the winter league survey indicate that the majority of members prefer the winter league to remain virtually unchanged. We have however simplified the rules somewhat and plan to make further improvements next year. If you haven’t entered a team yet, please join us and Improver/Advanced/Year 2 and Year 3 students are also welcome.
New: We are hoping to enter a Midland Counties 9 high team. Do contact me or Tim Glover ASAP if you are interested. We are hoping to gather some ‘newsy items’ to publish on the LCBA website; Shelagh Rumbelow will co-ordinate this, so please send information to her.
Thanks in anticipation
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We are sad to report that Peter Harvey has passed away. Peter was a Grandmaster and long-time stalwart of Leicestershire Bridge.
Nick Stevens has written an obituary for Peter..
The funeral will be held at Barwell Methodist Church at 12:45pm on Monday 31st March, and afterwards at Barwell Bowls Club.
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The Midlands Congress took place over the weekend of 3rd to 5th January. Leicestershire players placed well in a number of events.
Open Teams
Pat Watson partnering Carolyn Fisher, and teamed up with Penny Dawson and Sharon Smitten, were third in the Open Teams.
Full Results
Ladies Pairs
Pat Watson, again partnering Carolyn Fisher, was runner-up in the Ladies Pairs.
Full Results
Mixed Pairs
Mark Wiggins and Judith Simpson competed in the Open Teams and finished in the top half.
Full Results
Swiss Pairs
In a large field of 68 pairs, Ben Norton and Adam Hickman finished 12th
Full Results
Swiss Teams
Ben Norton and Adam Hickman had a better result when they teams up with Andy Cope and Giles Ip in the Swiss teams. They finished second, just 1 VP behind the winners, having had a draw with them in a head--to-head match.
Nick Stevens and Colin Dean teamed up with Rogr Bryant and Gareth Roberts to finish fourth.
Full Results
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Congratulations to Ben Norton, partnering Sarah Bell, and Teamed up with Francis Hinden and Graham Osborne, for winning the Swiss teams at the Year End Congress.
Ben and Sarah also posted very respectable scores in the Mixed Pairs, coming 8th, and in the Swiss Pairs, coming =9th.
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Chairman's News - November 2024
I'd like to start with some Thank-yous: My thanks go to:
The teaching teams round the county. Thanks to their organisation and hard work, we are now seeing recent past students entering National competitions (and holding their own well) and helping with the teaching. We are also now, finally, no longer seeing a regular decline in our Leicestershire membership. My heartfelt thanks goes to ALL those involved in the County-wide teaching sessions
The local organisers for the Festival of Bridge of September. Our Leicestershire clubs raised significant funds for the "It's a real deal" cancer charity/EBU campaign. Some clubs were able to link it to student recruitment and gained extra students as a result of their campaign. My thanks go to all those who contributed in any way for these events (organising, distributing posters, making cakes etc). There were many of you and it was great to see you joining together to support the initiative. (See the LCBA website for more details).
All the Leicestershire Club Directors; without you running these sessions, the members would not be able to enjoy your club sessions. Taking on these responsibilities eats in to your time and can adversely affect your NGS scores, so thanks to you all for your hard work.
Paul Bowyer for providing training for experienced players and for providing the excellent teaching material that so many of us use.
Our hardworking LCBA Committee who provide events for all of us (and all their background work for this)
We still need more help to keep the improvements going. REQUEST Please volunteer:
- to be the LCBA Vice Chair (we need fresh blood and ideas and helping hands)
- to be an extra Committee member on the LCBA
- to replace John Wilcox as Winter League co-ordinator on the Committee. John served us extremely well; providing years and years of hard work and shared his vast bridge expertise. He is willing to help any prospective replacement....please volunteer and take your turn on the Committee
- Anyone who hasn’t helped yet with local bridge teaching, do consider helping in any way you can to help keep the momentum going of bringing new students to the bridge table to boost out table numbers. You could also help with duplimating boards if you don’t want to be a bridge teacher (helping hands ease the workload)
- County bridge club Committee also need help with duplimating. If you haven’t yet taken a turn, please volunteer (training can be provided)
Bridge holiday
County Bridge club are organising a bridge holiday in March to Makeney Hall in the Peak district. They have a few places left and are now kindly opening it up to all Leicestershire players (whether affiliated or not). Frank Travers is the organiser and more information can be found on the County Bridge Club website. Steve Wright will be the Director and I will be the Host.
Competitions
The LCBA continues to offer a range of competitions (league, pairs league, student competitions, various cups etc) that cater for a wide range of players with non-experienced prizes. In 2025 there will also be 2 Green point events (in March and June) and a Charity Swiss Teams event (in April) (all held at County Bridge club).
County matches
Would you like to represent your County and improve your bridge at the same time? If so please contact Tim Glover and he can explain more.
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Monica Lucas - Honorary Member
Monica Lucas has been awarded Honorary membership of Bradgate Bridge Club for being the inaugural member of their Centurion Club.
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Please click on the image above to see the photo album for the AGM.
Thanks to Shelagh Rumbelow, our photographer.
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We are delighted to announce that clubs in Leicestershire raised a total of £5705.52 for Cancer Research UK as part of the EBU's "Bridge - it's a big deal" week. A number of clubs held special events, all of which were very well supported and successful, and other clubs donated the table money from their club night in the week concerned. A big thank you in particular to everyone who helped with the organisation of the events, as well as everyone who supported them.
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We are sad to report that Charu Shah lost her battle with cancer and passed away on 8th October 2024, surrounded by her family.
Judy Hulland has written an obiturary.
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We are sad to report that Simon Stokes has passed away.
Simon was a Grandmaster and a long time member of the County Bridge Club and Clarendon.
Several of his many friends have contributed to Simon's obituary .
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Nottinghamshire Green Point Swiss Pairs
Congratulations to Richard Rees and Phil Harrison, who came second in Nottinghamshire Green Point Swiss Pairs.
They won six out of seven matches, including one against the eventual winners.
Full Results
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Clubs around Leicestershire are celebrating the Festival of Bridge and raising money for Cancer Research UK
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Charnwood Bridge Teachers
- 🕙 10am to 12noon
- 📌 The Rothley Centre
- 📃 Open morning for students
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Bagworth Whistlestop Bridge Club
- 🕖 7pm
- 📌 RealBridge
- 📃 Swiss pairs
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Bradgate Bridge Club
- 🕖 7pm
- 📌 The Rothley Centre
- 📃 Charity Pairs
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Blaby Bridge Club
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County Bridge Club
- 🕚 11am to 2:30pm
- 📌 County Bridge Club, St. Oswalds Road
- 📃 Duplicate Bridge and Lunch - Booking Details
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Market Harborough Bridge Club
- 🕛 12noon
- 📌 Kibworth Golf Club
- 📃 Bridge Drive and Lunch - Fully booked up
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- 🕖 7pm
- 📌 The County Bridge Club
- 📃 Charity Pairs
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Glenfield Bridge Club
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Grantham Bridge Club
- 🕙 10am to 4pm
- 📌 Rosprey Village Hall
- 📃 Chicago Bridge, includes 2-course light lunch. - Booking Details
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Bradgate Bridge Club
- 🕐 1.15pm
- 📌 The Rothley Centre
- 📃 Charity Pairs
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- 🕖 7pm
- 📌 The Memorial Hall, Glenfield
- 📃 Charity Pairs
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Loughborough Bridge Club
- 🕖 7pm
- 📌 John Storer House, Loughborough
- 📃 Charity Pairs with raffle
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Hoby Bridge Club
- 🕐 1:30pm
- 📌 Hoby Village Hall
- 📃 Bridge Drive with afternoon tea - Booking Details
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We are sad to report that Neil Beasley has passed away.
Neil was a long time member of Blaby Bridge Club. He was the LCBA's Tournament Secretary for many years.
Dave Pollard has written an obituary for Neil.
A commemorative service for Neil Beasley's life will be held at 11am on Monday 12th August at the Heart of England Crematorium, Eastboro Way, Nuneaton, CV11 6WZ. No black attire please.
Please join Pat and family afterwards to celebrate him at his favourite eatery, dom Restaurant and Bar, 22 Church Street, Thurlaston, LE9 7TA.
Family flowers only please, donations to Prostate Cancer UK can be made via McCartney's Funeral Service, 47 Coventry Road, Hinckley, LE10 0JR.
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Please click on the image above to see the photo album for the AGM.
Thanks to Peter Halford, our photographer.
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The LCBA would like to welcome its newest affiliated club, Hoby Bridge Club, which meets on alternate Thursdays at 7.00 for a 7.30 start. Please contact the club secretary for details of the Thursday evenings on which the club meets, details in the Clubs and Venues page.
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Pat Watson and Carolyn Fisher had a successful Jersey Congress. They were runners-up in the Swiss Pairs. Then they teamed up with John Holland and Raymond Semp to win the Swiss Teams.
Swiss Pairs Results | Swiss Team Results
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