Abingdon Bridge Club was formed during the autumn of 1978.  Its main instigator and founder was 'Randy' England, who tragically died of a heart attack during the opening club duplicate in the 'Old Gaol' Leisure Centre, Abingdon.  Randy was a member of the (Atomic Energy Research Establishment) Harwell Bridge Club, which had been become defunct due to lack of support for some time.  This fact, and the lack of a duplicate Bridge Club in Abingdon, was the driving force behind the formation of the club.  It was agreed at a preliminary meeting at the 'Old Gaol' that 'Duplicate Bridge' should be played (as opposed to rubber) and the first Chairman (John Sperry) and other committee members elected at an inaugural meeting in the autumn of 1978 and their elections confirmed at the first AGM in December of the same year.  Tuesday was chosen as the evening for club nights, in order to avoid clashing with Wallingford BC (Wednesdays and Fridays).  The club was named 'The Old Gaol Bridge Club', and became affiliated to the OBA during this first year.

The club continued to play at the Old Gaol for about three years, until the move to the Neave Room in the Conservative Club Ock Street, in the autumn of 1981.   Following a long successful stay at this venue, it was agreed that we should look for somewhere new and after several years of searching, a move was made to the Abingdon Guild Hall Council Room - a fantastic room with superb history in April 2004.  Click Here!  for some great photos!!  Click here for a map via 'multimap' and type in our postcode - OX14 3JE! There are several car parks nearby - including the council offices car park opposite (ignore the 'clamping warning!).

Due to the move away from the Old Gaol Leisure Centre, and the existence of other Bridge Clubs in Abingdon (in particular, one that played Rubber Bridge on Tuesday afternoons), the Club was renamed the 'Abingdon Duplicate Bridge Club' to distinguish it from the others and to identify its purpose.  This name change was confirmed at the AGM held on 8 December 1981.

The Club entered its first team in the Wessex League in the 1983/84 season, in a newly formed division 3 and gained promotion each consecutive year until reaching division one for the 1985/86 season.  The club now boasts 3 teams in the league - that now has 5 divisions.  The 'A' team are currently in Division 1.  The Club Logo was approved in May 1987 (as a competition won by Graham Hesketh).  The concept of a club calendar was introduced in the early 80s.  This calendar is produced annually and contains a list of members with their telephone numbers,  as well as a list of weekly events with spaces to enter the names of partners.  This tradition has continued to this day, along with competitions that were initiated at the start, such as an Open and Handicap Pairs, Individual competitions, along with Spring and Autumn Cups, a Large Cup (for mixed pairs), Team events and the annual 'Len Salmon Trophy match' against Wallingford BC.  Different conventions are allowed during these events- level 4 for the Open and Handicap Pairs and the Teams competitions, and level 3 for other events, unless the sponsoring organization (such as the OBA for the Oxfordshire County Pairs heat) deems otherwise.  Members of the committee  are also listed, along with a 'Partnership Host/Hostess' who should be contacted if looking for a partner before attending a club duplicate.  The club attempts to enter teams in National events, such as the NICKO, and its members feature regularly as being successful in National competitions.

Club Chairpersons (with their election date)-
                                    Autumn 1978, John Sperry
                                    December 1979, Rupert Seacome
                                    December 1982, Mrs Marie Nelson
                                    October 1985, Clive Keep
                                    October 1987, John Spearing
                                    February 1991, Joe Fox
                                    February 1992, John Spearing
                                    February 1994, Bernard Connolly
                                    March 1996, Robert Stocks
                                    March 1999, Alan Bryden
                                    March 2002, Ray Ball
                                    March 2005 Gordon Carroll  
 

clive keep 3/01/2000
(last updated on 07/01/06)

home