Personal Histories of People who are associated with Cups/Trophies at Swaffham Bridge Club

The Vos Trophy

Pat Vos and her husband were members at the Club before 1980 with Pat’s husband being President from 1986 to 1988. Pat’s husband did not play bridge at the Club after 1990 but Pat continued to play until 2016/17 season when she was over 100.

The Cup was originally donated for a competition that was held on a Thursday evening but these sessions were discontinued after COVID. The Cup was first awarded in 2011 and then transferred to a Tuesday evening cup in 2023.

Margaret Barrett Cup

Margaret Barrett was a long serving member of the Club and was Club Secretary from 1963 to 1982. Records are not clear but she may well have been a member at the inception of the Club. Her last appearance on the members list is in 1994.

Minutes of a Committee meeting on 19 April 1983 say "Mrs Barrett had presented a cup which would be played for in August". 

Annakin Shield

Eric Annakin was a founder member of the club in 1953/54 and was present at the first AGM in January 1955. He was a committee member from 1984 to 1986. He last appears on the membership lists in 1993 and it is assumed he died the following year. In the minutes of a committee meeting in 1995, it is stated that ‘the Annakin Shield was donated by his brother, Mr F G Annakin to be played for annually in remembrance of Eric on a date near his birthday, 14 June’. 

Myhill/Wright Trophy

Mr P Myhill was a member of the club from 1955 to 1972. He held several posts including Committee Member, Tournament Director, Assistant Tournament Director, Captain and Vice-Captain. Committee minutes 13 July 1976 ‘instructed the Secretary to write to Mr and Mrs Myhill inviting them as guests of the Committee anytime when in Swaffham’ so perhaps they had moved away.

The next reference to Mr Myhill is at the AGM 1982 when ‘The President proposed that the £200 legacy from Mr Myhill should be split, £100 to be used to buy a trophy and the Interest on the remaining £100 to be paid to the winners each year’. The Myhill Trophy was first played for in 1982 but not purchased with the Myhill legacy.

The second name on this cup was added later. It refers to Mr Eric Wright. From the minutes of a committee meeting in 1982 it is clear the Myhill Cup was provided by Mr and Mrs Wright. Eric Wright was Committee Member from 1972 until 1991 and held positions of Captain, Vice-Captain, Tournament Director and Assistant Tournament Director. He quite clearly gave a lot of his time to the Club so Mr L Whitemore proposed a cup to commemorate Eric Wright. When this was put to Eric in 1992, he asked if it might be possible to put his name on the Myhill Trophy. It was of family sentimental value, none of the Myhill family remained and it was thought that the capital sum donated to provide an annual prize had been exhausted. The Committee reluctantly agreed to this.

Colin Dickerson Memorial Trophy

Most of you knew Colin. He joined the club around 2002/3 and was elected to the Committee in March 2013 where he was a member until his death in 2024. Ian Lambert has provided the Colin Dickerson Memorial Trophy with the agreement of Colin’s family and wife, Diana. It has been requested that this cup is played for in May near Colin’s birthday.

Whitemore Brothers’ Prizes

The Whitemore brothers were Lenny and Cliff. Lenny appears in the membership lists first in 1980 and finally in 1999. Cliff was a member from 1987 to 1996.

The Whitemore Brothers Prizes were awarded for the first time in 1992; described in the 1994 fixture list as ‘A Knockout Competition played on nominated Duplicate Pairs evenings‘.

In 2002 the Whitemore Brothers’ Prizes were merged with the Whitemore Cup but in the last couple of years these have been awarded as different competitions. Only cash is awarded as ‘the prizes’ funded by donation made by the brothers in 1992. Originally it had been expected to pay prizes from the interest on the donation but interest rates have been too low. The capital has been used and it is anticipated this will last for a couple more years.

Massey Memorial Cup

Wing Commander Bill Massey MBE was a long serving member of the Club. He held a range of positions from 1979 to 2001 apart from a short spell from 1981 to 1986 when it is assumed he was posted elsewhere. These positions included Vice Captain, Vice President, Treasurer, assistant Tournament Director, Tournament Director and Captain.

The Massey Memorial Cup was first awarded in 2011 for members attending the Thursday evening group and then transferred to a Tuesday evening.

Reportedly, Bill Massey was awarded the MBE for his services in the Falklands Conflict where he worked out how to refuel planes over the Ascension Islands. It is rumoured he did this using a calculator bought in Swaffham Market!

Corbett Rosebowl and Corbett Cup

Bessie Corbett was a driving force behind the formation of the Bridge Club along with Mrs Fennell and Mr Cranmer. Mrs Corbett and Mrs Fennell held the post of co-Chair at the Steering Committee in 1953 and at the commencement of the Club in February 1954. Mrs Corbett then became president from 1955 t0 1958. She was vice-President until her death in 1964.

Bessie Corbett donated the Corbett Cup which was first played for in 1956. On her death, the Committee agreed that a suitable memorial should be given. They decided on the Corbett Rosebowl.

Fennell Cup

Mrs Q M Fennell was an instigator of the Club. After being co-Chair in the initial stages, she was a committee member from 1955 to 1956, treasurer from 1956 to 1958 and president from 1959 until her death in 1975.

Mrs Fennell donated a cup to the Club and this was first played for in 1957.

Cranmer Cups

Mr S Cranmer was a founder member of the Club and was co-opted on to the Committee in 1954. From 1955 to 1958 he served as Captain, then from 1959 to1960 he was vice-captain when he stood down for health reasons. Mr Cranmer donated two cups in March 1959 and these have been played for since 1960 in one competition.

Whitemore Cup

This cup was donated by the Whitemore brothers who were the same Whitemore brothers who organised the Whitemore Brothers’ Prizes. They were Lenny and Cliff. Lenny appears in the membership lists first in 1980 and finally in 1999. Cliff was a member from 1987 to 1996.

In 1990 it was proposed to offer the Whitemore Cup donated by the brothers. This ‘Cup’ was actually two cups – a larger and a smaller one. This competition was originally set out as held over two meetings in consecutive months with a different new partner each time; there would be an individual winner who accumulated the best percentage scores. This event no longer takes this format.

For a short time from 2011, the smaller cup was awarded to Thursday group but now both cups are awarded on a Tuesday.

Day Cup

Sue Day was a regular player on a Tuesday evening and contributed greatly to the Club. From Bill’s research Sue first appears on the membership list in 1991 when quite quickly she became treasurer – a post she held until 1996 when she became president. Sue held this post until 1998, then she became treasurer again until 2000.

In 2007 Sue was elected Chairman and held this post until 2024 when she stepped down initially from being Chairman and then Committee member.

Sue also supported the Club in other ways. She was a Tournament Director since 2010, organiser of the Spring Event as well as organising Christmas Events.

Sue donated this cup in 2008 for the best performance by a pair on a Thursday. Since the closure of Thursday bridge sessions after Covid, the Cup has been awarded for the best player on a Tuesday evening from their best 15 results in that year.

Burlingham Bowl

Brian Burlingham has been a regular player on a Tuesday evening. He joined the Club in 2005 and became a Committee member in 2007. He was Vice-Chairman from 2010 to 2024 when he stepped down.

Brian donated the Burlingham Bowl in 2008 for the best performance by a pair on a Tuesday based on their best 15 performances in that year.

Researched by Bill Muir and Anne Fairweather in 2025