The start 1967 - 2011

ere are two stories to be told, firstly the bare facts of the development of the club and secondly how our dream has come true. Of course, the two are linked and what follows is an outline of the bare facts. ere will be more, much more, to come.In January 1967 a number of members from Peterborough Bridge Club came to Stamford to introduce Duplicate Bridge as part of    a move to increase the number of clubs playing duplicate bridge in Northants. e first meetings were held in Blackstones with Bruce McKenzie and David and Pat Williams leading the way. By September regular meetings were being held on the first floor of the White Heather cafe in All Saints Place. Soon the club was formalised with Colin Guildon as Chairman, Margaret Simpson, Secretary and David Williams as Treasurer. ere was a Committee of three or four members which included Bruce McKenzie. As an early  force

behind the development of the Club, Bruce became Chairman and subsequently President. He

remained an active member of the Club until his death on the 24 April, 2012, aged 88. He gave a short speech at the opening of the new clubhouse. e stay at the Cafe was a brief one and that month the club moved to the Congregational Hall (now the United Reformed Church Hall). Regular duplicate sessions were played there (again on the

1st floor) on ursday evenings. Aggregate scoring with cash prizes was the norm. ere were 8 - 10 tables most weeks. In 1968 Match Pointed Pairs became the accepted method of scoring on Tuesdays with 3 - 4 tables.

1 Stamford Bridge Club

Stamford Bridge Club

1923 - 2012

e next year, 1969, on the 1st April, the club moved to ground floor rooms in what was then the Mentally Handicapped Centre in Bath Row. is venue was better known as King’s Mill. Play took place on Tuesday and ursday evenings scoring by Match Pointed Pairs with the occasional Teams evening. At this time the club joined the Northamptonshire Contract Bridge Association and members took part in the Lakeland (a competition for club teams) and the Murchie Learner, a pairs event open to all members of the county and held in Corby. Up to 17 tables was usual.e social side was not neglected and the first dinner was held at the Crown Hotel in Uppingham. An unlikely venue perhaps but subsequent Dinners have been held in Oakham, Collyweston, Fotheringhay, Ufford, Empingham, the Crown, the George, Stamford and recently at Burghley Park Golf Club.

e next move came in October 1977 when the club hired rooms in the Stamford Arts Centre, (first floor again). e move enabled the club to have exclusive use of two rooms, obviating the need for the end of the evening ritual of putting tables away, stacking chairs, storing boards and other e q u i p m e n t . A s b r i d g e became more popular, the club premises could not easily accommodate all who wished to play. Ten tables was a near maximum. Hire of the Ballroom was a temporary

measure as was the use of rooms in the Congregational Hall or Stamford School, where up to 17 teams could compete against each other. Other milestones were; 1979 - Rubber Bridge on Wednesday aernoons, 1980 - Saturday evening events, 1992 - Monday aernoon events for the less experienced were organised by Jan Sugden and Fiona West.Bidding boxes were purchased in 1989, the first computer in 1997, and Bridgemates in 2005. In 1992 the club celebrated its 25th birthday with a party in the ballroom at the Stamford Arts Centre. ere were 35 pairs present and 19 players are still playing members of the club.

2 Stamford Bridge Club

From the late 1980s the club had been looking for larger premises and finally in July 2007 the club moved to the Social Club at Stamford Hospital. Despite some misgivings, this proved a major success. Numbers rose, playing conditions improved and the success of the club teams was evident to all. Coffee, tea and more exotic beverages were enjoyed and although the need for movements involving two rooms was still present, it presented nothing like the problem it had at the Arts Centre. e problem of parking was solved and, provided the tenancy could be secured, the future looked idyllic. Finances improved as the hours available for play increased. Duplicate Bridge was available four days a week and an improvers' session on Wednesday mornings was started. is regularly has 17 or more tables in play.However, it was not our club in every sense of the word. e possibility of imminent changes in the future of the NHS was also worrying and beyond our control.

3 Stamford Bridge Club

2011 and the FutureIn 2010 the Hospital Trust informed the Club that major changes were afoot and that the lease would not run further than July 2012. Terry and Mary Knights had been searching for a suitable (and affordable) venue when they learned that the Indoor Bowls Club in Exeter Gardens had a parcel of land the upkeep of which was a nuisance to them and which might be available. It looked a possibility. Brian Churchill sketched a plan on

the “back of an envelope” and views of the members were sought.  A preliminary decision    to go ahead was unanimous and a more formal approach to the Bowls Club was made. Peter Willmot was engaged

to produce architect’s drawings and some idea of the cost involved was obtained through tender. Early quotations varied from £350 - £450k. Not good news as there was only £83,400 in the kitty. However, a friend of Harry Ramamoorthy, John Regis, undertook to oversee the

work “at cost”, u s i n g l o c a l contractors well known to him. e figure quoted was £150k and the date of completion late 2011.At a meeting of club members, pledges of cash were m a d e a n d

eventually the sum of £113k was loaned to the Club to b e r e p a i d , with interest, annually over 10 years. A further £3,300 was donated. A sub committee was formed to mastermind

4 Stamford Bridge Club

the programme. A major problem was believed was believed to be getting planning permission. In the event this proved a much more straightforward process than had been foreseen and local councillors were extremely helpful, recognising the project as of great value to the town. is smooth passage followed an initial setback when the South Kesteven Environmental and Recreational Committee rejected the project out of hand.

ere was believed to be no appeal. Or at least not until Club Chairman Paul Double made representation to local councillors. Councillor Mrs Maureen Jalili was fully behind the scheme saying “She couldn’t see a better use for a waste piece of land.” e decision was reversed.Building was not without a hitch and at one stage it was feared that progress would be held up over the final lease arrangements with the Bowls Club. However, a positive approach by the sub-committee resulted in agreement on the 1st June. e bulldozers moved in on the 2nd  of June, 2011.Another problem was the Electricity Company’s quotation for the supply of fuel. Far too much for the slender funds available but solved by club member Harry Ramamoorthy. His Company, was able to dig the

5 Stamford Bridge Club

ditches prior to the installation of water, electric cable and a gas storage cylinder.All this has not been achieved without the considerable help, hard work and knowledge of many members too numerous to mention. Much of the refurbishing, fund raising and social activities necessary to a successful club were carried out by Mary Knights and Berry Hedley. Leading the field however were the New Premises Sub

Committee, comprising Brian Churchill, Paul Double, Graham Hedley and Terry Knights.

6 Stamford Bridge Club

On 25th November 2011 members poured into the Hospital site to start the MOVE!It was not long before the rooms in

McKenzie House began to take shape. Our oldest member,

approaching his 90th birthday, was as active as most.

7 Stamford Bridge Club

8 Stamford Bridge Club

Play started at McKenzie House on the Monday 28th November 2011

e Official Opening, 18th March 2012

ere were over 150 members and guests for the opening. anks to Terry and Mike, all the cars were parked successfully and gorgeous nibbles were provided by Marlene, Annie, and Berry. It w a s g o o d

that founder members Bruce McKenzie and David Williams were both present, with Bruce giving a brief history of the Club.

e opening ceremony was performed by Sally Bugden, Chairman of the EBU. Andrew Kambites, bridge player, author, director and organiser, entertained all with his considered views of Bridge and those who play the game.

9 Stamford Bridge Club