Whilst the Club is thrilled that the standard of play on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursday evenings and Fridays is ever improving and the numbers attending are increasing, we are aware that some members might like a more relaxed session.

So, as an experiment, we are introducing relaxed sessions WITH CAKE on the first Thursday of the month, starting June 6th at 1.15. We aim to play fewer boards and have experienced players around to advise if required.  Crib sheets are allowed too.

If you know anyone who might be interested, please ask them to just turn up - with or without a partner.  If you don't have a partner we will find one for you.

The first session will be free- Bridge and Cake what could be better?  After that it will be £4.

All welcome – club member or not.

TEA + COFFEE from 9.30 BRIDGE STARTS 10.00

Why not come and join us for our second away day of 2024 at Singing Hills for a two course lunch, tea and coffee and a day of bridge on 11th June 2024.

"Ticket" Sales start on Monday 20th May 2024 and NOT BEFORE!

So if you want to join us then please pass your name, your menu selection and £25 per person to Kathy Bennis to register.

Limited to 40 members maximum. Book early to avoid disappointment.

£25 per member - the club is subsidising this event (so we are limiting entry to regular players only please).

Mains:

• Roast Leg of Lamb
• Roast Chicken
• Salmon Wellington
• Butternut Squash & Goat's Cheese Wellington (vegetarian)

* All served with Seasonal Vegetables & Roast Potatoes

Desserts:

• A Selection of Hot & Cold Desserts of the day
• Coffee & Mints

NB: Allergens available on request.
 

The Club will be holding the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 15th May 2024 at 16:30 straight after the afternoon bridge session.

You can view the agenda by clicking this link  PBC AGM 2024.

All members are welcome to attend.

The PBC Committee is happy to announce that that the SCCBA Management Committee met  on the 22nd of March and they decided that our nomination of Peter Langston for the 2024 Gladys Hakki Trophy was successful. This is great news and we feel he is a really deserved winner of the award.

The intent of the Gladys Hakki Trophy is annually to recognise a member of the County who has given unstintingly of their time and service and contributed exceptionally to the success of contract bridge in the County.

This is the text that PBC committee submitted in our nomination of Peter: -

"Peter has been a stalwart of Sussex bridge for well over 20 years, previously serving on the County committee.  He has directed many county events and is still doing a few now.

With many other clubs floundering during the pandemic, Peter worked tirelessly to ensure that Patcham not only survived as a club but thrived.  He set up many online sessions on BBO, often attracting over 30 tables and he has arranged and run many online matches against other clubs to ensure members maintained their interest and contact with other members.

His unstinting work has ensured that Patcham Bridge Club has not only survived but has come back stronger after the pandemic.  Among his many other roles, he serves on the Club Committee, maintains and improves the club website, is a regular director and is one of the club's IT experts.

Patcham BC is now, not only the busiest in the County, but it is also the 18th busiest club in the Country and this is in no small part due to Peter's unstinting and excellent work.

We believe Peter Langston would be a worthy winner of the Gladys Hakki award for 2023/24.  To the best of our knowledge, Patcham BC has never had a previous winner of the award."

The Committee of Patcham Bridge Club would like to inform the membership of the legacy that Doris Strauss has left the club in her will. She left the club £10,000 and we are now in receipt of it.

Doris was a founder member of Patcham Bridge Club when it started back in 1999.

She served a long period as both Secretary and Treasurer of the club.

She continued to direct club sessions at Patcham BC well into her nineties.

Also for a number of years she served on the Committee of the SSCBA - the Sussex County Contract Bridge Association.

She rose through the EBU ranks to attain the rank of Premier Tournament Master.

She was an Honorary Member of Worthing Bridge Club.

We will be thinking of a way the Club can remember Doris and how best to use her legacy to us.

3 NIGHTS: FEBRUARY 2nd -5th 2025 at the 4* HOTEL MIRAMAR in BOURNEMOUTH

In 2025 West Sussex Bridge Club is again joining forces with Horsham Bridge Club to organise a winter bridge break at the beautiful Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth. The Miramar is wonderfully situated near the beach on the East Cliff with excellent food and superb service.

This time, the bookings and general administration will be done by WSBC B.C. and the bridge will be run by Horsham B.C. It will include 2 afternoon sessions and 3 evening sessions with standbys available.

Seminars and hand discussions will be held on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Non-playing partners would be most welcome (£30 discount)

Flight A & B Prizes and master points awarded for all sessions.

Prices for Bridge & Accommodation with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast for 3 nights: £245 per person sharing a double/twin room, £315 per person for single occupancy - Sea View room +£30; Sea-view room with balcony +£60

For more information or to book a room please contact Chris Jago on 01444 715915 or email secretary@westsussexbc.co.uk

The Club's Membership Year commences on the 1st of June.

Annual Membership which covers Face to Face and Virtual Events on BBO is £5

Heidi Shotter will be collecting membership fees at the Club from 29 May

Note the new bank account Patcham Community Association Sort 30-99-50 A/C 39809068

The new account is much easier to access.

We know lots of you are looking for a regular or occasional partners. We also know that the facility in the Calendar pages is not the most “user friendly” thing in the world.

So, we are re-launching the “Find a Partner Pinboard” facility. We think that using the virtual pinboard will be easier for everyone. It has been available before but it was mixed up with the Contact Us form. Now it has its own menu link. You don’t need to login to the website to add a Pinboard request.

We are going to let the two methods run in parallel for a while so if you are looking for a partner, please check both the Pinboard (in the left hand menu) and the Calendar in the right hand column. Or add your own requests of course!

If you need assistance with the process contact patchambridgeclub@gmail.com

We are pleased to advise you that the car park is solely for visitors to the Community Centre or the Library.

To park there you will either need a Membership Permit or a Visitors Permit displayed in the parked car.

Membership or Visitors Permits are available to collect at a bridge session.

Failure to display a valid permit or not parking tidily in a designated space risks a  £100 fine.

Parking will remain on a first arrival basis.

Detailed Parking Rules are in the Documents section in the lefthand menu of the website or click here  Patcham Community Centre parking rules.pdf