More than £1,800 raised for White Helmets

Elizabeth Barker's charity bridge event raised a magnificent £1,833 in aid of the White Helmets, the volunteer aid force still operating within the earthquake disaster zones of Syria and Turkey.

Thanks to all who participated in the event on Sunday 14 May at Cheltenham Bridge Club.  As a small bonus, it's good to report that Alan and Sue collected first prize as the top EW partnership.

Picture © Syria Civil Defence.

Members and friends enjoying the 2019-20 Mr Bridge New Year holiday.

Fliberty magic

NEW: Congratulations to Fliss and Robert who came top of the 2019 averages with an overall score of 58.81%, well ahead of Maggie and Colin with 55.75% and Jo and Jim on 55.5%.

The averages require a total of ten results to be played, on a pro-rata basis, during the year.  Those for pairs, individuals and slams in 2020 will be found in the left-hand menu under 'Averages and honours'.  The bus pass club continues as before for the over 65s.

They also came top of the slammers table with ten points (small slam counts one point, grand slam three), beating Meryl and Nev with eight, and Diana and John on seven. However, there was not a single grand slam bid and made all year.  Who is going to be the first in 2020?

The highest score of the year was achieved by Ros and Tony on 17 April with a splendid 68.75%.  Peter and Brian's record of 74.38% scored in November 2018 still stands.

Diana and John come of age and join the elite

Congratulations to the Wrights who on 30 October achieved a score of 67.24%, thus qualifying for much-prized membership of the elite Southam bus-pass club (no cash substitute allowed) which goes to anyone with a score of 65 or above.

Apart from Rob and Fliss, who by repeated accomplishments are entitled to a seat upstairs, they became the sixth of our regular pairs to qualify.  All are listed in the left-hand menu under Averages and honours/Bus pass 65+ club.  Peter and Brian still hold the record with a remarkable 74.38%, held since November 2018.

New committee members:

Secretary Gwynne Tucker Brown and Mary Ann Rust were thanked by all for their work for the club over several years, and on their retirement from the committee Diana Wright and Sarah Lear were unanimously elected at the AGM as their replacements.

Chairman Tony Reeves summarised a successful year.  To see his written report, click on 'Committee and reports' in the left-hand menu, then '2018 chairman's report'.

Also available are the club accounts, which show a healthy surplus for the year ended 31 December 2018.  Choose '2018 accounts' in the same sub-section.

Famous Five go on a holiday

Angela, Di, Jan, Marian and Nicole defied the usual conventions - and adopted some surprising new ones of their own - at the Mr Bridge New Year seminar, our correspondent reports.  As a result, they were displaying many unexpected tricks until well into the early hours.

Before the party: Angela, Di, Jan, Marian and Nicole at the Mr Bridge New Year holiday at Denham Grove.

Bernard Magee is in the DJ top left, and they are pictured with Roger Williams of Cheltenham BC, a Mr Bridge helper.

Caps off to our Xmas elf

Mary Ann and Gwynne did a great job in planning our Christmas party, at which the festively-attired Rob (pictured right) celebrated in style, winning all 13 on the slam of the night.

You can see how he did it by clicking on Hands of the Week in the left-hand menu.

£1m so far, and more to come

The latest total for Children in Need raised by Orkney-based Ecats, now stands at more than £1,008,000.  Southam has supported the event for several years and raised £90 for the charity in November.

At that event Jo and Jim achieved 66.62% nationally, putting them in the top 30 of more than 1,500 pairs, and their 65.77% at the club meant that they became the first proud members of Southam Bus Pass Club, open to those who reach 65 (or more).  In percentages, of course.

See under Averages and Honours in the left-hand menu.