Bridging the 75 year gap
If you think that people who play the game of bridge belong to a set of middle-class stuffed shirts, then think again! Down at Halifax Bridge Club on Prescott Street, it’s soon to be party time. This year sees the 75th anniversary of the formal founding of an organisation that gives much enjoyment to those who delight in playing the game that provides an opportunity to practise careful thought in a competitive, but sociable, environment. The celebrations will soon begin to mark this special occasion. Although it may be an exaggeration to warn locals about congas and fireworks at the town centre headquarters, the special moment will definitely be celebrated in style.
They may have been shuffling the pack of members in Halifax Bridge Club for three-quarters of a century, but they are still coming up trumps as another milestone in its history appears on the horizon. It was actually back in the interwar years when the cards were first dealt. A group of keen individuals met up in the Plummet Line Hotel, on Bull Close Lane. They used the town team banner for their group name, coming together once a month to play what was known at the time as “contract bridge”. By 1936, the Palace Chambers on Southgate sometimes acted as host, with Princess Street’s White Swan also being used as the end of the decade approached. Organised bridge was played on something of an ad hoc basis until the outbreak of war in 1939 called a halt to many such activities.
Interest in the game was rekindled in peacetime. However, it was not until 26 April 1950 that matters came to a formal head. At a meeting held at Halifax Ladies’ Club, the official Halifax and District Bridge Association was formed, with appropriate officers appointed and a constitution drawn up. Although often based at the Plummet Line, the club continued its somewhat peripatetic journey around the town until premises were secured on Rhodes Street in 1959, not far from where the Jamia Mosque Madni now stands. Although this venue suited the club’s needs internally, later problems with parking and vandalism forced the committee to look elsewhere for a base. The club relocated to the Ladies’ Club for several years before purchasing the current premises on Prescott Street in c1990.
Halifax Bridge Club has continued successfully from its current base for some 35 years. During the 2010s, it had a particularly successful first team competing in the upper strata of the Yorkshire Bridge League. Although now both retired from representative play, one of this number is still a regular in play at the clubhouse and another can also be “seen” playing online. Albeit with some difficulty, the club withstood the pressures of Covid and lockdowns in 2020-21 by adapting to include online play that was happily accepted by many, including its silver surfers. It was during this difficult period that a link was established with a bridge club on the Isle of Skye. There followed several “international” matches between both clubs, thanks to connections via the internet. A gradual return to traditional on-site play was happily reintroduced and the club is now looking to the future with confidence. Prospects are good as new student members of all ages and from across the social board have been recruited and introduced into the club ranks via a mixture of computer based and face to face learning. The development of established members is not overlooked. To this end, experienced players are hosting weekend workshops for colleagues who wish to polish their skills. Interest in playing the game is as keen as it was in yesteryear. The only problem seems to be trying to fit everything into a restricted time scale. Perhaps the Beatles had the right idea when they sang of “Eight Days a Week”.
The 75th anniversary of the club’s official founding is being marked by a number of special events. There is to be session open to players from other clubs across the UK and even further afield, made possible by the magic of the internet, using RealBridge platform. On another occasion there will be a “bridge-athon” held at the Prescott Street clubhouse. This will take the form of different groups of four members playing a marathon number of hands of cards, known as “boards”. Normally, a bridge session has approximately 20 or so boards played over a period of about three hours. The plan for this special occasion is to play 75 boards to match the number of years in the anniversary. Wow! That’s a lot of potential for extended furrowing of concentrated foreheads in a total session time that could be in the region of ten hours! Not surprisingly, though there might be the odd one or two hardy (or should that be foolhardy?) souls wishing to take on the whole lot, there are plans afoot to have sets of boards played in relays. So, the paracetamol might not be required. However, the event is intended have a focus on enjoyment rather than competition and the organisers promise to provide both refreshments and spot prizes to help entrants enjoy the occasion.
The whole celebration period comes to its conclusion with a special dinner, held at Bradley Hall Golf Club at the end of April. A cabaret is also planned as an accompaniment to the food on offer. Doubtless there will be fine wine to match the fine speeches as members share a few anecdotes about their time as participants at Halifax Bridge Club. At the same time, many will be looking forward, perhaps hopefully, to the next milestone of a centenary in 2050. Whatever the individual hopes and aspirations they have, everyone at the club shares the overriding mantra: ”Bridge is Fun”.
Andrew J Mitchell
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