Honor Flint, who represented her country during the 1960s and 70s, died on October 26th at the age of 92.
She was born on 7th August 1923, the eldest of three girls. Her father, Henry Flewett (a Classics master at St Paul’s School) was a keen bridge player and she joined him in family games from her early teens.
At the outbreak of the Second World War she was evacuated along with her sister, to Oxford, but returned to the family home in Barnes in 1942.
She lied about her age in order to secure a position with the war office working on censorship, and was subsequently posted to Egypt with two others to open an office in Cairo. It was here that she met her first Husband Sydney Rye, and they continued to live in Alexandria after the war.
In 1956 the Suez Crisis meant the end of the Ryes’ life in Egypt, and Honor returned with her three children to live with her parents. Her husband remained in Egypt but returned to England a year later for a brief stay in England, before taking a position in the Sudan and this lead to the end of their marriage.
Honor found that she could make money playing Rubber Bridge and it was doing this that she met Jeremy Flint whom she subsequently married in mid-sixties. Together they won several domestic competitions including the Pachabo in 1958 and the Spring Foursomes four times, with a hat-trick between 1971 and 1973
Honor’s tournament career started in the late fifties with Pat Gardener and subsequently with Nicola Gardener (now Smith), Madeleine Lester and Pat Forbes. During the seventies she played in the World Pairs with Dimmie Fleming whom she partnered in the European Championships in 1971.
Her last international appearance was with Ann Kirch in the 1973 European Championships, when the team won a bronze medal.
During the sixties she travelled to the USA with Jeremy and on their return they set up home in Chelsea where they were joined by her daughter Annette and future son - in- law Irving Rose.
After the death of Jeremy Flint, Honor continued to play Rubber Bridge at TGRs, a club founded by Rose.
She is survived by three children of her first marriage, Annette, Anthony and Ashley.
By Dominic Flint
Major International Appearances
Women's European Championships: 1970 1971 and 1973
Lady Milne selections: 1959 and 1970
Spring Foursomes Winner: 1965 1971 1972 and 1973
Autumn Congress Two Stars Pairs Winner: 1963