We were saddened to hear of the recent death in August 2024 of Mrs. Joan Lang who for many years, including back at the old club location on Devonshire Street, has tidied and cleaned our premises,and served and cleared when we had Team matches or social gatherings.
Many of our members will remember her efficiency and we are grateful for al she has contributed to the running of Keighley Bridge Club.
She leaves Jeff her partner, daughters and grandchildren. Her granddaughter Natalie Wilkinson has agreed to continue in her place. 

PAUL MAXWELL (MAC) VINEY        11th September 1932 - 21st January 2024

Mac and his wife Doreen were some of the original members of Keighley Bridge Club when sessions were held at the Victoria Leisure Centre in an upstairs room. New premises at a terraced house in Devonshire Street were bought with some of the finance provided by members like Mac and Doreen, who became ‘Life Members’. Their finance being paid back when possible. Mac was involved with the purchase of the current club at the current location at Clock View Street, Utley.

Mac was a good bridge player. and a very likeable character. With Alan Morton as a long-term partner, they played what was described as a ‘bastardised’ version of the Blue Club system favoured by the Italian international Team (Squadra Azzura). They probably would not have recognised it.  They also played the Canape system which meant bidding the shorter of two suits first !  They often played in it instead of their long suit fit.    All this confused the opposition.   Mac's daughter, Sarah, said that she could never understand about them arguing about a hand played three weeks earlier with each one blaming the other for a wrong bid or not playing the right card.

Mac's career was as a Maths teacher.  When Treasurer of the Club, he once made a small error in the accounts. When it was mentioned, he said “Mathematics was my subject, not Arithmetic”.

Mac retired early from work, and unfortunately a few years ago had to stop playing at the Club.

He had been devoted to his wife, Doreen, who has Dementia. While waiting to go to live in a care home with her, he had a stroke and died in hospital at the age of 91.

He will be missed greatly by his family.

The funeral of Mac Viney was held on 12 February 2024 and was attended by several Keighley Club members.  
 

John Mulligan.

John Mulligan, who played regularly with his partner Pat Tankard in our Wednesday evening sessions, sadly died on November 13th 2023 after a short illness.

John was a true Yorkshire Man, having been born in Barnsley where he attended the local Grammar School, leaving to take his HNC in Technical Drawing and Engineering, then spent most of his working life in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Leeds University. His attention to detail to all things mechanical was reflected in his thoughtful approach to bridge and in his quiet encouragement to beginners of the game.

He was also a member of Ilkley, Skipton and Settle Bridge Clubs and since Covid had enjoyed Settle’s Tuesday evening on-line sessions.

He was an excellent golfer while also playing hockey, badminton and table tennis. More recently he had confined his sporting activity to croquet, playing at Earby Croquet Club and also with Craven u3a.
He and Pat shared a love of music and enjoyed attending the u3a Popular Music group.

He will be sadly missed.

Ranbir Kapur. 

For many years Ranbir was an enthusiastic member of Keighley Bridge Club enjoying the social aspect as much as the bridge. He contributed to the barbeque each year as well as many Christmas parties etc. 

Many members enjoyed holidays he helped to plan also social bridge sessions at his house, he always had a good bottle of wine on Wednesday evenings too.
Unfortunately, Covid put a stop to that for Ranbir and he ended his life in a nursing home.

He recounted that as a child he and his family had take that horrendous journey during Partition, from Pakistan to India and eventually came to England where he became a successful business man.

Everyone who remembers him agrees that he was a gentleman, always had a big smile and was a pleasure to spend time with.

Ranbir sadly died on 7th. September 2023 aged 89.
Rest in peace.

Mavis Binns

Mavis was born on 23rd September 1930 and lived with her parents in Devonshire Street, Keighley. Nine years later, her parents had a son, Alan, who survives her and lives in Wakefield. After primary school she went to Keighley Girls Grammar School where she had a good academic record and was good at sports. In fact, she was the Keighley Girls Table Tennis Champion.

After her first marriage ended, she met and married Jack Binns, a local businessman and a President of Keighley Golf Club. Mavis’s son, Martin and his wife, daughters and step-daughters share their time between London and Switzerland, but Mavis frequently visited them and was called Nani by the children.

For many years, Mavis played bridge both socially at home and at Keighley Bridge Club in Devonshire Street and later at Clock View Street. At home, her three fellow bridge players were Stella Wilson, Barbara Smith and Irene Dickson.

For five or so years prior to Covid, she partnered Hedley Hickling at the Wednesday Afternoon bridge drives.
Another friend of Mavis in recent years was Audrey Metcalfe, a KBC member who still lives in the same block of apartments in Sutton as did Mavis.

Mavis died on 28th June 2023 in Town End Close Care Home, Cross Hills.

Mr Harry Kennedy

Following a Wednesday Evening Bridge drive at KBC on the 3rd May 2023, Harry and Carol came top, had a glass of wine, said farewell to everyone as a trip to Canada was planned for a few days later.
Harry sadly and suddenly died peacefully during that night.

Although relatively new to KBC, Harry and Carol became a very welcome and lively addition to Wednesday evenings, always lots to chat about and interested in what others had to say, he will be missed.

Harry had a full and very interesting life; he was a member of Steeton male voice choir, a keen golfer and among other interests an enthusiastic bridge player.

We send our sincere condolences to Carol and his three daughters.
Rest in Peace.