It is with huge sadness that we report on 30th April 2021 the death of long-standing Club member Frank Morrison.

Frank was a quiet, very thoughtful, but extremely effective Bridge player - a joy to play both with and against. He was a prominent member of the Club for a great many years, and he was an automatic choice for the teams to represent the Club in the two Essex invitational Teams Events - the Fletcher Trophy and the Cornell Trophy (previously contested as the Helliar Trophy) - and made a significant contribution to the Club's many successes in those events over the past twenty years. He has won each of the Club's Championship competitions at least once. He also has the distinction of appearing right at the top of the 'Seventy Club'. Playing with the late Sid Prince, he achieved the magnificent score of 76.39% in March 2008, a score that has never been surpassed at the Club. He also features prominently amongst the hands reported as 'Featured Hands' on the Club's websites.

Frank also had plenty of successes elsewhere at the Bridge Table, and his name features prominently amongst the lists of past winners of Essex CBA events. He was not 'just another top-level player' - he was also a very nice man and he will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts at this time are, of course, with Frank's family. The funeral is to take place at Ingatestone Church at 2.30 on Wednesday, May 26th 2021. The Covid rules that are expected to be in force on that date restrict attendance to 30 mourners.

The above text is from Alaric Cundy. For a further 'In Memoriam', from Ian Moss, follow this link to the ECBA Website. 

We are saddened to announce that long-standing Club member Catriona Lovett died on Thursday 25th March 2021. Catriona had been a member of the Mountnessing Bridge Club for as long as anyone can remember, and enjoyed significant success in the Club's various competitions. Even though for some years she had obvious physical limitations and discomfort, she always offered a cheery welcome to her table, and her smiles and quips were infectious. She will be sadly missed by all, but most especially by her husband, John.

Follow this link for a brief In Memoriam by her Club partner, Mike Harbour, and click here for some tributes from Club members. We still have no information on funeral arrangements, but imagine that Covid regulations will severely restrict attendance. 

It is with immense sadness that we have been asked to let you know that Chris Megahey lost his long battle with illness on November 28th 2020, very peacefully at home with his family around him. He had been very cheerful and positive throughout his long illness. It seems impossible that we will never witness his infectious smiles and wit again.

Our thoughts at this time are with Karen, his widow, Steven, his son, and Sammy, his daughter.

Funeral arrangements are not yet known, but will be advised in due course.

A personal appreciation by Alaric is available here.

Many club members, and other Essex players, have passed on their own tributes, which can be read here (updated). This document is open for any further comments, and it will be relayed to Karen.

We are sorry to announce the death on 25th February 2020 of Margaret Curtis.  She died peacefully in her sleep after a lengthy illness. 

Margaret was a very prominent member of Mountnessing Bridge Club for many years, and, indeed, one of the Club's trophies is awarded in her name. She frequently represented the Club in the Essex Invitational Teams events, and has contributed significantly to the Club's successes in those events.  She will be sadly missed by everyone at the Club.

More widely, Margaret was even better known for her contributions to the administration of the Essex Contract Bridge Association, for which body she was the Honorary Secretary for 55 years, and for her involvement as a senior contributor to the governance of the English Bridge Union. She was presented with the EBU's highly prestigious Gold Award for her services to English Bridge in 2000. 

Details of funeral arrangements will be made known to anyone who would like to attend. Our thoughts at this sad time are with her family and close friends.

Click here for Margaret's biography on the EBU Website.