When I first started playing bridge, about 15 years ago, I ‘trained’ at TGR’s rubber bridge club, which was located in a dingy basement in Bayswater Road. I didn’t notice the dinge — I felt intoxicated just walking in there knowing I would get a game. In those days we could smoke in the back room, Richard Selway was the loveable host with the sharpest wit around, and there was a big game going every day for a minimum of £50 a hundred. About eight years ago, we moved to the New Cavendish Club, smoking was banned, Richard died and the big game decreased to £30 a hundred. Now we have just moved again, to Paddington, our own lovely premises, not at all dingy, duplicate as well as rubber bridge, but still, for me, the same excitement knowing a game awaits.
Opening night started with an IMPs tournament won by Catherine Fishpool and Marek Zegar.
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