By Terence Reese
BM September 1975
It is sometimes said of a woman that when she enters a room she lightens it up. Of a man, rarely; but Leslie Dodds was like that; wherever he played, everyone responded to the charming smile, the courtesy, the modesty, so rare in a great player. Dodds and Kosky, Dodds and Bach, Dodds and Rayne, Dodds and Konstam - those were great partnerships and great days.
A powerful man, keen golfer, very successful in business, with a beautiful wife, Bijoli, he suddenly had a dreadful stroke, which left him almost bedridden and dependent on a manservant. He endured that state for nearly fifteen years, always the same Leslie, maintaining his interest in bridge and sometimes writing letters to the press on matters he considered important.
“This was the noblest Roman of them all”.
Major International Appearances
European Championships: 1938 1939 1948* 1949* 1950* 1952 1953 1954* and 1955
Bermuda Bowl: 1950 and 1955*
* = 1st place
Camrose Trophy Selections: 1946 1948 1949 1953 1955 and 1957
Gold Cup Winner: 1938 1949 1956 1960 and 1961
Crockfords Winner: 1951 and 1955
Masters Pairs (1936-1965) winner: 1955
The Hubert Phillips Bowl Winner: 1955
Tollemache Cup winner: 1953 and 1959