Rob Turner (1949 – 2019)
10th May 2020
It is with great sadness that we have been informed that Rob lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on 24 November 2019 shortly after his 70th birthday.
Rob had played bridge in Yorkshire for nearly forty years and for most of the last twenty had been an EBU Tournament Director. He ran many local events and supported numerous county and national competitions as well as being involved in the training of new Directors.
However he will be best remembered by YCBA as the county’s webmaster for establishing the first website in 1999 and developing the current website. His outstanding work maintaining the website for the benefit of all YCBA members will never be forgotten. In particular the speed at which the Yorkshire League results were displayed sometimes within minutes of matches ending contributed enormously to the enjoyment of members participating in the county league.
Rob also served on the YCBA Management Board for a number of years and undertook the role of Assistant Secretary from 2001 to 2008.
Our deep and sincere condolences are extended to Mary, his life and bridge partner for forty years as well as his wider family, friends and bridge partners.
Julia Staniforth YCBA Secretary
Les Brown
10th May 2020
September 2019
We are sad to report the recent death of Les Brown.
At various times Les had been a member of both Huddersfield Bridge Club and Bradford Bridge Club and had represented both clubs in the Yorkshire League. He had recent success with Roger Sharp, winning the Yorkshire Pairs in 2018.
Les was a long-standing member of the YCBA and had edited the YCBA bulletin for many years. He was also the bridge correspondent for the Huddersfield Examiner for a period.
Nick Dyer 1951-2019
10th May 2020
We are sad to report that Nick Dyer, of Doncaster Bridge Club, passed away on Sunday 6th January.
Our condolences go to all his friends and family.
For more information please see the Doncaster Bridge Club website.
The league match between Doncaster A and B was postponed as a mark of respect and will be played later this month.
Joe Kowalski
10th May 2020
Joe Kowalski, a member of Huddersfield Bridge Club for over 50 years, has died recently. It was sad to see his rapid decline in recent months at the club, but still remarkable that he was performing well at Bridge up until a few weeks before his death at the age of 96. Joe represented Huddersfield Bridge Club in county events and in the Yorkshire League until last season. His greatest success was winning the Northern Pairs with Peter Radley when he was already well into his eighties. They then came a highly creditable 6th in the National Pairs final.
Chris Quigley
10th May 2020
Many people will be sad to learn that Chris has died, after a short illness.
She had been a stalwart and much loved member at Doncaster for many years,
playing for their A team in the Yorkshire league, as well as for Yorkshire in the Northern Bridge League.
Bob Nicol, the Bradford Steward
10th May 2020
To many Yorkshire players, Bob was a familiar figure they met whenever they visited Bradford Bridge Club.
He had been at Bradford for 30 years, having been employed with his wife, Val, in 1986.
Val died in November 1997 and Bob continued to work alone until this year, when his health deteriorated.
He died on July 5th aged 74, leaving two daughters (Nicky & Debbie) and 5 grandchildren.
Many in Yorkshire and the wider area will be sad to learn of his passing.
The Bradford Kibbitzer carries an appreciation by Elaine van Heel, and (further on) a full obituary.
Please click on the heading to visit.
Di Western
10th May 2020
Di sadly passed away on 8 March after a courageous fight with cancer.
She played competitive bridge for over 40 years, firstly in her native Nottinghamshire and then in her adopted county of Yorkshire when she relocated with her family, becoming a member of Bridlington Bridge Club for sixteen years – and Chairman for seven years until 2003. During this time, Di worked tirelessly on behalf of the club, maintaining standards, teaching bridge to both beginners and improvers as well as organising the very successful Bridlington Congress. She also played and
was a very popular member of Scarborough Bridge Club until her return to Nottinghamshire to be nearer her family and many friends. Nevertheless, she continued to play in Yorkshire for a time at Doncaster Bridge Club, especially enjoying competing in the Yorkshire league. Di will be sadly missed by all her family and friends and as my special friend and a bridge partner.
Mavis Bamforth
10th May 2020
1927 – 2015. It is with much sadness that we have been informed that Mavis passed away on 12 September. Mavis had been a member of Halifax Bridge Club since 1961. She was also a life member of Keighley BC and a member of Brighouse BC, playing for over fifty years in the Yorkshire League and in numerous county and national events. She will be sadly missed.
Giles Foster
10th May 2020
Members will be sad to learn that Giles Foster passed away on Monday 23rd February 2015 at about 12 noon in the Bradford Royal infirmary, having been in hospital since Thursday the 12th.
Giles was born and brought up in Maidstone in Kent and grew up with a love of music, playing both the cello and piano. He moved to university in Leeds in the late fifties to study Maths and also began playing bridge. He was quickly taken under the wing of the – then international – Rita Oldroyd and she helped him to develop his game.
After leaving university, he moved into teaching and what became a 30-year Maths teaching career.
Giles had a very long and illustrious bridge career both in Yorkshire and nationally. He was a Grand Master and played for many years at national level with Rita and more recently with Richard Winter and Steve Ray. He often played for Yorkshire in the Tollemache and won the Waddington Shield on 9 occasions with 4 different partners. He was in the winning team in Division 1 of the Yorkshire League at least 10 times. In 1985 he won the very prestigious National Spring Fours with his Nottingham partner Wille Crook and later won the Silver Plate in 1990, Crockfords and the Brighton 4 star teams in 1992 and the National Teams Congress in 1996. Giles has been runner up both in the Hubert Phillips Bowl (twice) and the National Inter-Club Knock-Out.
He was not in the best of health in recent years, but his appetite for bridge was undiminished. He won the last two events he played in: the Mixed Pivot Teams (December 2014) and the Yorkshire Pairs in January 2015. He leaves behind his wife of 33 years, Sheila, who has also recently begun to play bridge in Giles’ footsteps. We would all agree Giles had a quick wit and was very congenial at the bridge table. His natural enthusiasm and positive nature made him great company away from bridge too. We will certainly miss him.
Sheila Dunsby
10th May 2020
February 2015. The sad news came in that Sheila Dunsby has died. Please click here to see the obituary.
Cards and messages of condolence may be sent to David Dunsby at Wester Ground, Chittleham Holt, Near Umbersleigh, Devon EX37 9NU
