Knowle Bridge Club Chair’s Annual Message 2024

Hasn’t the year gone well!  We manage more smiles than frowns. Table numbers are buoyant so we cover room hire costs and there is usually a slightly different selection of members present each week.  Some are relative beginners seeking a friendly place to develop while seasoned campaigners look either for an evening’s gentle diversion or opportunity to practice and build a partnership. The mixture makes for varied and absorbing play. Our Player of the Month awards have continued to add a bit of fun and sometimes taken a winner by surprise. Competition must have been keen because no-one succeeded twice this year. Congratulations to everyone who won.

Our equipment has worked well with occasional confusion making a learning opportunity for TDs. A new piece of kit now lets us pay table money by card. The venue, Knowle Village Hall, is pleasant place to play. Its refurbishment programme has done wonders with the rooms we use and next phase will be improving the green room and backstage.

Last year’s drinks and nibbles set a happy atmosphere for our AGM and subsequent bridge play. It was disappointing to get no addition to our committee during the meeting, but shortly after first Geoff Walters and then Marie Howarth volunteered and were quickly co-opted. They bring fresh viewpoints to  invigorate the old stagers. We also persuaded Fran Baxter to join so we benefit from her experience with  Dorridge Bridge Club and as a TD.  

Committee members are presently the following people:

• Andrew who understands the computer and tablets. He directs. He backs up Tony generating hands.
• Faye who ensures there is always something available to drink. She knows a local background and always considers individuals.
• Fran who directs and has long experience running bridge. She researches solutions and finds answers
• Geoff who organises our TDs. He is usually first on the scene to set up for an evening.  He is irrepressibly cheerful and always encouraging.
• Marie who keeps track of membership. She collects table fees and has co-ordinating this evening’s refreshments.
• Mike who keeps our accounts, books the hall pays the bills. He administers our Whatsapp group and our Player of the Month awards.
• Tony who generates our hands from a computer and uses a dealing machine so we have cards to play each week. He directs and leads on policy for TDs.. He researches anything we need to know with tireless enthusiasm and knows the history of everything to do with bridge.

Beyond the committee, Chris Lynn is usually our fee collector and Janet Cundy very often substituted in Chris’s absence.  David French continues to be absolutely brilliant looking after our website.
I try not to get in the way of any of them. On behalf of all club members I offer a big “Thank You” to all of these.

Committee recently considered whether we should affiliate to the English Bridge Union.  We concluded we should not.  The only benefit for most members would be awarding master points, for which a fee would be paid to EBU per player per session and there would be some constraints on the movements we play. Our members would all be expected to be members of EBU too.  We felt the rigour of satisfying EBU risked spoiling the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that we enjoy.

Occasionally before and after an evening’s bridge I just stand back and watch how busy it is when, say, 10 tables are set up or cleared away.  Furniture whizzes around the hall; cloths, bidding boxes, tablets and boards fly into their places. Everyone knows what needs doing and does it so willingly. Thank you, members, for running your club so tidily every week.  Thank you for being such a lovely club to belong to.  I hope I enjoy 2025’s bridge as much as I have done 2024.

Paul Hardstaff

Knowle Bridge Club
Minutes of 61st Annual General Meeting
20th December 2023 in Knowle Village Hall

Present: Fran Baxter, Richard Birkin, Flora Blackett, Erica Corney, Janet Cundy, Tony Cundy, Faye Doble, David French, Bridget Hardstaff, Paul Hardstaff, Linda Heinemann, Neale Heinemann, Jan Hornby, Marie Howarth, Joanne Isaacs, Margaret Leighton, Elaine Leisegang, Linda Lucas, Chris Lynn, Mike Lynn, Ian McLean, Tony Milner, Louise Noble, Christine Oldroyd, Peter Oldroyd, John Pickering, Caroline Richards, Shirley Rowe, Andrew Taylor, Peter Thompson.

The meeting began at 6.45pm chaired by Paul Hardstaff.

Minutes of the 60th AGM had been circulated and were accepted with no matters arising.

Chair Chair’s report had been circulated and contained items thanking everyone who had assisted in running the club. The usual plea for more TDs was issued. The traditional charitable donation of moneys collected in lieu of table money on AGM evening will go to Knowle Village Hall refurbishment fund.

Treasurer reported reserves were adequate to cover unforeseen emergencies and table money was beginning to cover hiring the hall. Table fees should stay £2.50 and an annual subscription for 2024 should be £5.00

Committee. All committee members were willing to continue in office. There were no further nominations or volunteers.  The meeting approved the following committee: Tony Cundy, Faye Doble, Paul Hardstaff, Mike Lynn, Andrew Taylor.

Other Business.  Chair announced that he would continue the tradition of donating any money collected on AGM day for a charitable purpose and nominated Knowle Village Hall restoration fund. There was no other business. Meeting closed 1900.
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