Born : 26th January 1966 in Barnet, Hertfordshire
Age : 40 years
Marital Status : Divorced
Children : Sophie, aged six and Jacob, aged five
Family : Mother, father, three older sisters, seven nephews and nieces
Live : Finchley, North London
Work : Property Consultant

I have been playing bridge for over 20 years and am hugely passionate about the sport, its history and the success of England's players.

Bridge and Me

In 1982, aged 16 years, I learnt kitchen bridge. A few weeks later a friend, Andrew Hart, suggested we play together in the weekly duplicate at a local sports club.

Andrew duly arrived and reeled off a few conventions to which I nodded agreement, oblivious to the meaning. On the very first hand I opened 1NT and my partner responded 2 clubs. The auction proceeded pass, pass, pass.  My partner went mad and told me I had passed Stayman! 

We came last but agreed to play the following week. When he failed to show, I played with a floater. The next week I was paired with Danny Roth and for the next year or so I played with him most weeks. Danny instilled in me an excellent framework for natural, Acol based bidding and for which I am extremely grateful.

I began to read every bridge book and magazine I could lay my hands on and a few months later wandered into the Seventy Seven Bridge Club in Hendon, North West London. Harold Schogger's developing club was open every afternoon and evening for either rubber or duplicate. I was consumed. 

My first EBU event was the 1983 Guardian Pairs at the Park Lane Hotel, London. I wore a suit and tie, as did my partner, David Better. Almost no one else under 50 did likewise. Rixi Markus and Zia Mahmood won; we finished a few from last. But my passion for the greatest card game of all, perhaps the greatest sport of all, was ignited. 

I have been collecting bridge related items for many years and now possess a vast collection of books, ephemera, magazines, memorabilia, photographs and trophies dating from 1930's.

A number of years ago, I began researching the history of Contract Bridge in Great Britain and finally in December 2004 became the Editor and Publisher of British Bridge Almanack.

I am a member of the International Bridge Press Association and have had photographs published by Bridge Magazine, Bridge Plus, EBU, Warren Buffet Cup and others.

I have organised a number of charitable bridge events and played in many more.

I have played very little competition bridge this past 10 or so years; probably less even than the average club master!

My Playing Career

I have competed in around 1,000 club duplicates and played many thousands of hours of Rubber Bridge.

I have been a member of the EBU for over 20 years and have played in County and EBU events in Brighton, Bristol, Eastbourne, Leeds, London, Maidstone, Oxford, Peterborough, Warrington, Watford and others on 50 to 100 occasions.

I have accumulated 219 black and 135 green points, which makes me a National Master.

I have played in the Common Market, European and World Pairs.

• My recent results include:

• 2004 Winner Middlesex Committee Cup
• 2004 2nd Hertfordshire ODSP
• 2005 2nd EBU Swiss Teams, Bournemouth Spring Congress
• 2005 Winner Oxfordshire ODSP
• 2006 2nd Middlesex League Two
• 2006 3rd Great Northern Swiss Pairs

Odds and Ends

One winter night in 1983 three others and I began a game of bridge at Harrow Bridge Club. At about one in the morning, Marilyn Bernstein, the owner whose home was above the club, told us to lock up when we were finished. At 7am Marilyn heard noises from the club below and called the Police. And so three of the countries finest officers duly rushed in to find us still playing!

On 1st & 2nd October 1938, my Great Uncle, Louis Westel, played for England in the Camrose partnering AF Beard. Their team-mates were Maurice Harrison-Gray, SJ Simon and Harry Ingram. His sister, my late maternal grandmother, played social bridge for over 70 years. I believe no other member of my family has ever played bridge.

My ideal job would be to run a purpose built bridge club, with plenty of parking, offering teaching, practice, duplicate and rubber, day and night and where all the players were kind, considerate and polite to each other at all times!

I started professional life in retail agency in the mid 1980's with Conrad Ritblat & Co and later went on to work within the London occupational and investment markets. I now have in excess of 20 years of all-round property experience and since 1999 have run my consultancy, advising clients on purchases, disposals, leasing and development.

My outside interests include football (passionate Arsenal supporter), travelling, communal and charitable work and most importantly, my family.