We are very sad to announce that Heather Westcott passed away on Jan 1st 2025.  Although we have not seen her at the club recently (first the pandemic, then moving away to Buckinghamshire), she continued to play through COVID  online and was able to continue afterwards in our WBC Pairs league, until recently, when failing eyesight made even this impossible.  Over many years, Heather (playing mainly with her sister Jennifer) was a regular player at the club, and she won the first ever Pairs Final in 1991 (with Joan Le Mesurier) and the Championship Teams in 2005, playing with Ian Leake, as well as many things outside of WBC: Heather and Jennifer won the County Ladies' Pairs three times, the Seniors Pairs once, and the Veterans Pairs twice, most recently in 2014/15.  Heather also won the County Mixed pairs with Steve Allerston in 2001/2. The picture shows them receiving the trophy for the Magpies (Heather, Jennifer, Fred, Barclay) winning League Div 3 in 2013/4, at WCBA  AGM.

Our thoughts and sympathy go to her husband Richard, and their family, and especially to her dear sister Jennifer.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ross Garratt, on Monday 9th December. Ross was a long-standing WBC member, with many achievements at the table - he won the Pairs (2014) and the Individual (2009), generally playing with his regular partner Mel; he also won the Healey Cup (2013) representing Worcester BC, and was frequently in the winning WBC line-up for the Ron Allen (teams-of-eight) Trophy and then in The Garden Cities. In 2021, his team (with Jimmy, David and Mel) reached the Final of the NICKO plate. More recently he had a regular partnership with Richard Jephcott, and they took part in our online leagues in lockdown. But above all, Ross will be remembered, and sorely missed, as a true gentleman, at the table and away from it.

We are informed that Ross's funeral will be held in Pershore Abbey on Monday 30th December at 12 noon, and afterwards at St Andrew's centre next door; all welcome.

We were shocked and deeply saddened to hear on Wednesday 11th September of the passing of our dear friend Roland, who made such an enormous impact on the Club in the last five years, not only with his outstanding skills as Secretary and organiser of many things, but by his warm and welcoming good-nature. He will be greatly missed, not only by the committee, partners George, Ian and Richard, but by many of our regulars at both Tuesday and Wednesday sessions. His wife Carol tells me that he died peacefully on Wednesday evening at 7.15pm, and was in no pain.

In accordance with Roland's express wishes, a Celebration of Roland's life was held at Hallow on Saturday 26th October, where we heard moving tributes from various areas of his wide interests, as well as beautiful singing from his children.

It was with great sadness that we heard on Wednesday that Sue had passed away on Wednesday 5th June.  Sue has been a huge figure in Worcester/Worcestershire bridge for many years, and will be missed by her many partners and indeed by opponents.  She played a significant role in the development of WBC as a club: she was Secretary for some years, did the calendar and rotas, was a regular TD, and embraced the Tuesday Hallow initiative with enthusiasm, playing a crucial role as a willing stand-in Director.

At the table, over the years she won the Ladies' Pairs nine times, most frequently with Sue Evans or Joyce Taylor; the Mixed Pairs three times (with Paul H or Ken C); the "P" Pairs five times, (three times with Chris S); the Play-off final twice, and the Teams four times.

Her last game of Bridge was at Hallow on Tuesday 14th May, in  Teams, when, playing with her dear friend Sue Evans, she won the wine prize for the top XIMP pair.

Pictures of this and other triumphs appear in the slideshow below.

She will be missed, at WBC and also at Malvern, Marcle and at WCBA where she played a huge part in our lives.

We are sad to have to report that Keith Graham passed away on Thursday morning, 11th April 2024, surrounded by family.

Keith became a member in 2017, when he moved to Worcester, and played quite a lot with Fred Rochelle on Tuesdays in the early months, as well as several other people on Tues/Wed sessions, before settling in to regular partnerships with George  (Tuesdays) and Richard  (Wednesdays). In lockdown, Keith played loads of Bridge on BCL, including many  sessions with Richard in our Pairs leagues; and since lockdown has been a regular Tuesday player.  He made quite an impression on those who have played with and against him with his quiet and gentlemanly good humour, and this was warmly felt in many good-wishes messages in a card which we prepared in the days before he died, but which sadly he was not to receive.

Picture below shows Keith enjoying bridge and food at a Cafe  event.

It was with great sadness that we announced the death of Lyn Jackson on Monday 5th February, a founder member of the club from 1989, and long-time regular partner on Wednesdays to Paul Tapster.

We were advised of her passing back in February, and the family has now notified us of a "Celebration of Life" event, afternoon tea for family and friends, at G&Tea in Worcester on Sunday April 23rd. Lyn's son Nick has asked us to let him know of numbers for this event, as space is limited, so please let Mike know if you would like to join us.

More sad news received on 15th February that Suzanne Griffin, another original member of the Club from its beginnings, has passed away.  She was a longstanding partner of John Cattanach, with whom she won most of the club's trophies at least once; she also won the Ladies' Pairs with Agnes Cavenaile. 

She also played regularly at DBC, with Sue Tadman as her partner.

We have heard that the funeral will take place at Hanbury Village church at 1pm on Thursday 9th March, and afterwards at The Ewe and Lamb, Stoke Prior. Those attending are asked to wear predominantly black.

It is with the greatest sadness that we have to announce the death of Simon Harrison, in hospital on Tuesday 2nd November. Simon was an extraordinarily talented bridge player, and most recently partner at WBC to John Dowbiggin, and also to Roger Bowles, Sue Page  Ian Thompson, Brian Stanley and Mike Willoughby, who will be publishing a full obituary, which will appear on the WCBA  website.  Our deepest sympathy goes to Simon's family, who asked that we should let the bridge community know of this sad news.

Huge congratulations to founder-member Joyce, and Chris, who gave up on waiting for things to return to normal, and got married yesterday! (16th December) and are now Mr and Mrs Taylor!

The couple are very happy; and so are we - lovely to have some good news!  Hope to see them both at the Party next week, and maybe we can have a toast at the "bar" afterwards!  

Pic(s) to follow shortly.

It was with huge sadness that we heard yesterday of the passing of Jessie Newton, I suspect our oldest (and an original) member.

In latter years, she was able to take advantage of the opportunity to play Daytime Bridge, with her loyal partner and friend John Turner; her presence at the table was always a pleasure.

This picture was taken at the 2010 AGM, the last occasion (2009) when Jessie and Jean won the Ladies' Pairs together. The Roll of Honour lists many of Jessie's triumphs, especially in the Individual competition. Our condolences go to Jean and her family on their loss.

There is an excellent obituary on the WCBA webpage.

We are very sorry to report that Dr Margaret Davies has passed away. Margaret was a long-standing member of Worcester Bridge Club, and a frequent player at Tuesday afternoon sessions at Hallow, playing with Yvonne, Jane, Sheila and Sylvia. I was especially appreciative when she kindly volunteered to play host in the Malvern Congress No-Fear event and paired up with a 15-year-old beginner.  She will be much missed.

We were deeply saddened to hear of the death, on Friday 16th August, of John Turner, a much-loved and long-standing member of Worcester Bridge Club.

John was involved in Bridge at County level for over fifty years; he directed (with a calm and charming table-manner) and was at various times Chairman of WCBA, as well as an honorary life-member of the Midland Counties Congress. He was honoured with the Dimmie Fleming Award by the EBU in 2002 for his services to Bridge.  He enjoyed a highly successful partnership with Jessie Newton in the 1990's, which they reprised at Hallow in the last few years.

John's funeral will take place at Worcester Crematorium on Tuesday 10th September at 1pm. Donations to the British Lung Foundation.  Tuesday afternoon Bridge will go ahead on that day.

It was with great sadness that we heard of the passing of Martin, on Tuesday 6th August; he was a true gentleman and a great supporter of Bridge events at WBC and elsewhere. 

His Memorial was held at The Friends Meeting House on Monday 19th August; it was a memorable and uplifting event, attended by many of his friends in the Worcester/Droitwich bridge community.

You may wish to read HERE the poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" which Martin's brother shared with us: Martin and Arthur shared this poem in his last hours.

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Fred Rochelle, a much-loved and well-respected member of the Club for many years.

It was a always a pleasure to play with Fred, and we were delighted that he was able to return to play at both Tuesday and Wednesday sessions in the last year.

His funeral was held at Worcester Crematorium on Friday 27th July, at 12:15pm.

We are sad to report the news that Alan Reid has passed away after a long illness. Alan was a long-standing Worcester player until moving away from the area in recent years, and was a regular and accomplished TD, often to be seen in the "red coat" at congresses. Our sincere condolences go to his family.