MALCOLM CAREY: a founding father of Suffolk bridge who has done so much for the game in the county and further afield

By Phillip Edwards

Malcolm Carey was one of the original founders of the Suffolk Contract Bridge Association in 1979.

He had moved in 1973 from working in Dollis Hill in London to the then brand-new BT Research Facility in Martlesham (BTRL). 

"We had joined the Ipswich club and Stuart McPhee, the club director, suggested we joined the Suffolk teams of four league...but we had to join the Essex Association to take part. After a year or so I said 'Why don't we have a Suffolk association?' That was in 1978 and we held our first AGM in 1979," Malcolm recalled.

Much of the impetus of the early days of SCBA centred on events held in the Staff Restaurant at BTRL, where Malcolm negotiated with the Director of the BT Research facility to enable this.

The EBU citation

Barbara & Malcolm in Cairo while directing Egypt's national Congress - where Omar Sharif was one of the competitors - and at the county Congress in Felixstowe.

Almost all the early funding needed to set up the SCBA came from these events, which regularly exceeded 30 tables. All SCBA had to do was print “By kind permission of the Director of Research” on all literature publicising these events – a very small price to pay!

Malcolm has been the Chief Tournament Director for SCBA for more than 30 years and was the Tournament Director of the very successful SCBA Congress for many years.

He continued his (very) long-standing commitment as a Tournament Director team member for IKBC up until Covid stopped face to face Bridge in its tracks.

Similarly his commitment to Felixstowe Bridge Club.

I think you will all agree that this is a stunning level of service to the SCBA and local clubs.

He ran all the above alongside his responsibilities and Directing as an EBU National Director (previously known as “A” Panel), which included running a home countries championships weekend in Suffolk for the Lady Milne trophy and Camrose trophy.

He has been a very busy man on behalf of Bridge, Directing events in many places around the world.

Malcolm has also been (and still is) the SCBA delegate to the EBU Council- over time as SCBA membership grew, we became eligible for more than one delegate, and Malcolm was always available to assist and “show the ropes” to our additional representatives.

In recent years, Malcolm has retired from National events Directing duties and has handed over the reins as SCBA Chief Tournament Director to Jacks Morcombe. He deserves a well-earned rest.

Thank You Malcolm.