Dimmie Fleming Award winner, 2014
Mike first started playing bridge 50 years ago. After playing in various clubs in the County he started teaching the game in schools. In 1976 he attended the EBUTA (now EBTA) Teacher’s Course and took the ‘A’ Level Practical and Theoretical examinations and was awarded the EBU’s Gold Teaching Diploma.
By 1990 more than 300 learners from his classes had moved on to play in local clubs and leagues. Mike has a very simple aim: “To provide places to play competitive bridge in a comfortable and friendly and environment for as many as possible and as cheaply as possible”.
For the past 20 years he has been involved in County matters as a member of its Committee and one of its Tournament Directors. Before the move to electronic communications he produced “The Kibitzer” – the County’s regular newsletter and still produces HIWCBA’s Annual Handbook.
During this time he has organised the Kidney Research Simultaneous Pairs competition held in about 80 clubs in GB which raised over £6000 this year. It has also been his job to administer the County’s “Charity of the Year” programme since its inception when John Carter was Chairman. This year that raised £1750 for the Hampshire Air Ambulance.