| Woodberry Weekly Pairs Events |
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Woodberry Bridge Club plays duplicate pairs every Tuesday evening @ 7.30pm at the Claremont Centre near Angel tube in North London.
Please try to arrive by 7:20pm.
Free refreshments are available.
We operate a host system so you are guaranteed a partner.
See the information tab for more information.
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| Last updated : 17th Aug 2026 18:05 BST |
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| Promoting Woodberry Bridge Club |
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Please promote Woodberry Bridge Club by posting our flyer in any suitable free space. Libraries and supermarkets often have this facility.
You could also post this on your social media page.
Click on the "Woodberry Flyer" tab to view and copy the flyer.
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| Last updated : 17th Aug 2026 18:07 BST |
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| John Probst |
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It is sad to report the death of the person instrumental in founding the Woodberry Club, John Probst. He was director at the Young Chelsea when your scribe moved to London in 1979, so I knew him for nearly fifty years and he was a frequent companion at the bar after games and at EBU congresses.

He had a stroke 15 years ago, from which he did not fully recover, and a couple of minor strokes after that which caused him to lose his sight. He spent the last couple of years in a care home near his daughters Katherine and Diana in Cambridge and some Woodberry members visited him there. He had poor short-term memory but he still remembered a hand from which he coined the term "Probst Cheat". He was directing so no slight applied to him.

The usual misunderstanding over RKCB led to a 50% grand slam. West led the jack of clubs and North won and led the queen of hearts. East was somewhat clumsy and played two small hearts to this trick. Declarer rose, playing with the odds, and went down, and then cried "Foul". John ruled that declarer was awarded the contract as East "could have been aware" that his infraction of "playing two cards to one trick" could well "damage the non-offender, South". I never found out if this hand actually occurred, but this type of infraction became known as a "Probst cheat".
He still recalled this when my wife and I visited him six months ago. He died peacefully in his sleep on 17th September. Condolences to his daughters, above, and to his sons Richard (with whom he played as Mad Dog and Rottweiler) and Stephen. And of course to his wife Maxine who cared for him after his stroke.
The funeral is to take place at 15:30 on 12 October at Cambridge Crematorium. Those who plan to go should let John's daughter, Kath Probst, know on +447817353216. Attendees are invited to curry afterwards. No dress code.
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| Last updated : 2nd Oct 2026 22:45 BST |
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| Woodberry Weekend - November 2026 |
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The next Woodberry Weekend is Fri 13th - Sun 15th November 2026. It will be held at Lansdowne Hotel in Eastbourne.
Full details are given in the booking form under the "Woodberry Weekend" tab.
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| Last updated : 17th Aug 2026 18:08 BST |
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