| Celebrating Jean's 90th Birthday - 19th November 2021 |
 Despite all that we’ve been (& continue to go) through since March 2020, and as the accompanying photographs confirm, a large gathering of SM&BBC members met at the Sherwood Forest Golf Club for a meal on Friday 19th November, to celebrate Jean Richardson’s 90th birthday that very day. In addition to a suitable gift from the Club, Jean was blessed with mementos and good wishes from friends who were either there on the night or unable to attend in person.
Jean is now the third active nonagenarian at the Club, and as a Life Member, enjoys certain benefits denied all of the envious ‘youngsters’.
After the excellent meal, the celebrations were completed with a few friendly games of bridge, Jean appropriately enough being one of the winners, and a ‘giveaway’ raffle in which the prizes ranged from various bottles (of good quality wine & spirits) to hand cleanser and hob cleaner.
No-one missed out, although the winner of the hob cleaner did look somewhat bemused! Unfortunately, but perhaps just as well, the photographer was unable to catch his puzzled look when presented with the bottle. He, like everyone else, regardless of value of prize, entered into the spirit of what was a fun and most enjoyable evening that truly represented the ethos of the South Mansfield & Blidworth Bridge Club. A warm and friendly organisation in which bridge is important, but friendships even more so.
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| Celebrating Tom’s 90th birthday in style |
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It may have taken place nearly twelve months’ later than had been planned, but at least the Club managed to hold his special 90th Birthday Golf Day ................before Tom Richardson reached his 91stbirthday! Like many postponed functions over the past eighteen months, the reason for the delay should require no explanation.
On 30 September, Craig Wagstaff accompanied Tom and, by invitation, his sons Peter & Andrew on a friendly 18-hole four ball competition around Woodhall Spa GC before enjoying a sumptuous lunch in the clubhouse. Craig and Peter narrowly triumphed over Tom and Andrew.
The autumnal weather did its best, but failed to dampen the spirits of the quartet, who thoroughly enjoyed the day.
At the following evening’s bridge session at the Community Centre, Tom went out of his way to publicly thank all in the Club who had indirectly or otherwise helped to make this such a memorable occasion for him. He was so pleased that he struggled somewhat to find the words to express his gratitude. This prompted one long time golf widow – let’s call her Jean - to comment that it must have been the first time in nearly 91 years that he’d been almost speechless.
Attached are photographs of Tom, sons Peter & Andrew and Craig looking resolute despite the weather, prior to setting off.
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