People sat at a table holding cards and learning bridge
Joan Ogg from Ridgeway Bridge Club and Alcester Bridge Club writes below about the clubs success with introducing their local U3A group to the wonderful game of bridge. Although Alcester BC is not affiliated to the EBU, their pro-active engagement with the local U3A group has had an impact on their own membership and Ridgeway BC's membership (who are EBU affiliated) by extension. Joan is very positive about the whole experience and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing bridge with a learning group who come for the company of a joy filled afternoon of learning to play bridge:
The U3A is a national organisation promoting outlets of activity for recently and not so recently retired people.
The Alcester Bridge Club at its AGM last year signified growing concern in lack of membership. I raised the point we had a large U3A (Universal Membership for the Third Age) group in Alcester (approx. 300 members) and perhaps we should approach them with a view to starting learning classes for the U3A members. Paul Brenda, who by profession is a retired school teacher and also enthusiastic bridge player of Alcester and a member of both the organisations in question agreed to undertake the matter in hand, with me as assistant.
We have had a great time in bringing bridge to the members of U3A. We have experienced members who played in their younger days coming back to the game of bridge and totally new beginners wanting the outlet of an excellent card game and have now joined Alcester Bridge Club as members thus saving a bridge club which was formed over forty years ago. The new members have also come top of the club in results which has caused joy for a lot of people.
Some of the new U3A members have now also joined Ridgeway Bridge Club.