Di Western

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

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

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

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

Ted Bond

Ted Bond, sadly, passed away on Tuesday 16th December after a short illness; he was 84.

For some three decades Ted filled a wide range of roles in the YCBA, including Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Yorkshire League Secretary. He became a Vice-President in 2011, after relinquishing his other duties.

In 2010 the EBU presented him with the prestigious Dimmie Fleming award for service to his county.

Peter Foster

It is with great sadness that we have to report that Peter passed away on 30 September 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer. Peter was a founder member of Doncaster Bridge Club and served on its Management Committee for most of the time of his membership, working hard to ensure its successful operation and development. He also devoted a great deal of time teaching bridge to both those new to the game and those wishing to improve. He was a member of the YCBA Management Board from 2004 to 2008 and for many years organised and directed the Newcomers Pivot Teams event. Peter will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his wife Gail, sons Matthew and Edward (all of whom play bridge) and their families at this sad time.

Helen Dunham

We are sad to report that Helen Dunham died on 27th August 2014, at the age of 103. She was a member of Wakefield Bridge Club for over 30 years and played with her husband Fred. In 2007, Graham Jepson presided over a 70th wedding anniversary event at Wakefield. Helen used to play for Wakefield in the Yorkshire League, but has been living in Leicestershire since 2009. Source:Pat Dunham [pgzdunham@tiscali.co.uk]

Hubert Castle

The YCBA President, Hubert Castle, died peacefully on Thursday 20th February 2014.
He was Chairman of the YCBA from 1976 to 1990 and Chairman of Huddersfield BC for many years. Bridge was his chief hobby, closely followed by gardening and, in his younger days, tennis. He played with a series of partners including his wife Cath, to whom he was happily married for over sixty years. He leaves five grandsons and ten great-grandchildren.

He had passed his 100th birthday on 24th May last year.

On the day after his birthday the family had invited over thirty bridge players to join them for a celebration lunch at Woodsome Hall Golf Club. As he did not want any presents, Hubert had indicated that a donation to the Salvation Army would be appreciated. When the Salvationists heard about this, they responded by sending a band to play for us after lunch in glorious sunshine. Not even the family knew that he was interested in the Salvation Army. Asked why he had chosen them, Hubert replied: ‘Because it was the only place where I could get a bath when I was in the army!’

The Castle Swiss Pairs, named after him, continues to run every year at Huddersfield Bridge Club.

Ian Rodger

We are very sad to report the death on Tuesday 10th September 2013 of Ian Rodger.

Ian was a past chairman of Bramhope Bridge Club and also part owner of Leeds Bridge Club for several years, as well as being a valued member of the Yorkshire Management Board. Latterly he has played his bridge at Harrogate and Ilkley, representing Harrogate in the Yorkshire Leagues. Ian survived his wife, Mary, by just over 2 years. He will be greatly missed by his 2 sons, Tim and Chris, and by his many friends and bridge partners.

Sue Boag

We are sad to report the death, on Friday 30th August 2013, of Sue Boag, formerly Secretary of Pickering and a steadfast member of YCBA