Peter was introduced to the game of bridge whilst working as a lecturer at Brooks University. Despite leading a very full and busy life he enjoyed playing occasionally at Oxford Bridge Club. He sadly passed away after a short illness in August 2024. A quiet gentle man who will be very much missed.

Bill Timms died on 28th August 2024. In the past Bill was both the club's Chairman and Captain. Falling ill with Guillaume Barr syndrome curtailed his playing at the club, although after a long period of rehabilitation he managed to get to the club in his wheelchair on Monday mornings. His main partner was Phil Bacon for many years and he is remembered fondly by many club members.

Graham was diagnosed with stomach cancer earlier in 2024. He was operated on at the beginning of May and, after a very difficult period of recuperation, seemed to be pulling through. He played bridge online a number of times and was thinking about returning to the club. However, very suddenly on 21st August 2024 further complications arose; he was rushed to hospital but tragically died soon after.

Graham had been a very active member of Oxford Bridge Club for 15 years. Alasdair MacDonald was his regular partner but many other members played often with Graham and enjoyed his company. He contributed to the club by serving as a trustee for a time and by captaining some of the league teams for a number of years. A modest and unassuming man, Graham will be missed by many at the Club.

We are sorry to report the death of Elizabeth Nutten in May 2024. Elizabeth had been playing in the club for many years and had also contributed to teaching bridge in the club through Oxford Bridge Learning.

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Irina von Arnim Woods, one of the real characters of Oxford Bridge Club. She died peacefully in her sleep on Saturday 2nd March 2024, following a lengthy battle with lung cancer. As per her desire, Irina will be laid to rest in a small family affair, alongside her sister in her beloved Corsica. Irina's final days were spent at Sobell House hospice, with her son, Sacha, at her side. Sacha has gone out of his way to compliment the incredible care that she received at Sobell House and he asks that any donations in her memory be made to Sobell House Charity: Donate to Sobell House Hospice and End of Life Care in Oxford.

Anthony Loehnis died in December 2023. Anthony enjoyed the weekly Learn and Play sessions and his widow, Jenny, has kindly donated the cost for 6 additional coffee tables in his memory.

Susan Fletcher died in the John Radcliffe Hospital on 6th November 2023. Susan was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in July 2021. As well as devastating news for Susan and Brian, this was a sad blow for OBC, as she had just taken on the role of Education Secretary – a role she would have discharged with distinction. She was also instrumental in setting up OBC online bridge – an initiative which undoubtedly secured the survival of the Club. In spring 2022 Susan raised over £75,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association when she walked the Pennine Way with many friends, family and fellow bridge club members. Susan never lost her positivity and enthusiasm for life and, as well as being a trustee for the MNDA, continued to play bridge several times a week using eye-gaze technology.

Michael Robinson passed away in August 2023, in Katharine House Hospice near Banbury. Mike’s principal club was Menagerie, but he had been a member at OBC since 2017. He was also a stalwart of the Oxfordshire county bridge team. Matthew Covill writes “He was someone I always found calm and polite, and for me epitomised what a bridge player should really be. I never heard him raise his voice.”

Esme passed away in Fairfield Residential Home on 3 June 2023, at the age of 100. Esme had been a key member of Oxford Bridge Club for several decades. Her diminutive size belied her major stature in the club, whether teaching generations of members to play bridge, or playing a key role in inter-club bridge matches. She also taught bridge on cruise ships. On the domestic side, she masterminded all the catering at OBC for the Christmas and summer parties, and teas for county and club bridge events, and organised people to provide the food required for these, as well as serving drinks on club nights from the serving hatch in the old tea room.

David Bygott died on 8th April 2023. David was a founding member of Summertown Bridge Club, but was also heavily involved with OBC. For many years he played in the Wessex League A team for OBC, partnering his son Jeremy. He also represented OBC in the National Inter-Club Knockout competition. David was also a founding member of Central Yarnton Bridge Club. He was on the Oxfordshire Bridge Association committee for many years and used to write some very good newsletters for the OBA.

Alison Langton passed away in March 2023. Alison attended the Bridge for All course, and played frequently in Learn and Play and Gentle Duplicate bridge sessions. Outside the bridge world, she was heavily involved in Patient and Public Involvement.

Tom Brus died in March 2023. Tom had been hospitalised in Warsaw with high blood pressure. That, together with Covid, put too much strain on his heart. Richard Sills writes:

Tom was my Wessex League partner. I shall miss not only our partnership but his infectious enthusiasm for the game of bridge. We don't always know everything about our friends - so I'm grateful to Bridget Watson for pointing me to the following link: Tomek's Story. This gives a touching and inspiring account of Tom's journey through mental illness towards recovery, thanks in significant measure to the work of that wonderful organisation Restore.

Ben Beaumont passed away on 27th February 2023 after a long illness. He had been playing at OBC for approximately a year. Ben was a barrister who specialised in domestic and international trade dispute and a founder/chair of The Forum for International Conciliation and Arbitration. His journey to the Bar was an inspiring one. He left school at 17 to become a bricklayer's assistant, then a steel fixer and then a shuttering carpenter. He continued to work as a building contractor whilst reading for the Bar, successfully qualifying and then working as a barrister. He championed several charitable projects, volunteering at the East Oxford Community Centre and was a trustee of the Sunrise Multicultural Project.

Rosemary Young died on 22nd February 2023. She died peacefully at home where she had been looked after for about two years. Rosemary played regularly on a Tuesday and Friday morning until about 2019. She was very grateful to club members who were so understanding and accommodating when she became mute over a period of time.

Brenda Harris died in November 2022. Brenda was a very active member of the Club in the 1990s and 2000s, and served for a time as Club Secretary. A post-funeral reception was held at the club.

Jean Alexander passed away on 8th February 2022. Jean had been ill for some time and passed away peacefully at the JR. Jean was a very popular lady and played golf and bowls, in addition to bridge at Summertown and Oxford Bridge Clubs.

Club member for at least 20 years. Ian served as Treasurer of the club, and was one of the trustees instrumental in the purchase of the premises at 147 Banbury Road. He died in September 2021.

Club member since 2012. Died 19^th October 2020.

Member of the club until 2016 and a regular director for many years on Friday evenings. Died 12th May 2020. EBU note about Peter.

Club member from 2014. Died 14th April 2020.

Bridge for All member of the club. Died 2nd April 2020.

Long term member of the club. Died 15th March 2020. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/52134570

Bridge for All member of the club. Died January 2020.

Joint winner of the Morrie Marsh Novice Pairs Trophy in 2014-2015. Died January 2020.