Charlotte Vine, who has died aged 82, was President of Middlesex County Bridge Association since 2004.
Charlotte, the daughter of Rose and Harry Simmonds, was born in London in 1933 but was evacuated to Cirencester following the outbreak of WWII. She went on to study at Wycombe Abbey and then Birmingham University.
Unlike many woman of her age, Charlotte always worked, even when she had young children. She had a shop selling nursery furniture and baby goods in Preston Road, Wembley for many years and then worked at Walls Ice Cream as a market researcher. Latterly, until retirement, she worked in the legal services industry.
Charlotte loved all games, especially those involving cards, enjoyed knitting and played both outdoor and indoor bowls.
A long standing member of the EBU, Charlotte joined Pinner Bridge Club in October 1980 and became a committee member in November 1998.
In 2000, she assumed the Chair on the sudden death of Julian Hunt. Charlotte served as Chairman until April 2003 and remained on the club’s Tournament Committee until last year.
As a Tournament Director, Charlotte ably directed at Pinner BC and for MCBA for many years until retiring in 2011.
Charlotte served on the MCBA Committee for very many years, the last 11 as President and as a player she won numerous club and county events. Charlotte was always keen to encourage new players and very often offered to play with them. One such person wrote on hearing of her passing “She had a gift of explaining to the less experienced, in the nicest possible way, how they had completely messed up a hand.”
For her unstinting dedication to bridge at club and County level, Charlotte was awarded an EBU Dimmie Fleming Award in 2015.
Charlotte married Basil Vine in 1956. The marriage was dissolved in 1981. She is survived by her son Sid and daughter Terri. Another son, Richard, predeceased her.
Charlotte's Dimmie Fleming Award citation from the 2015 AGM
Charlotte has served on the MCBA Committee for 15 years, the last 11 as President until her retirement from this role earlier this year. She was also a county and club Tournament Director for many years until retiring from such duties in 2011.
Charlotte attended many county committee meetings. She organised and attended county events and generally promoted the county. A steadying influence a on those around her and was always on hand for advice.