Chris Briggs from Kenley Bridge Club, South Croydon has written the below article which he sent to local magazines to encourage folks to join their local bridge club. If your club is running teaching events, you are welcome to use the below article for sending to your local magazines/papers as a means of attracting people to any upcoming classes for beginners.
I sometimes wish I hadn't started playing bridge. When I was approaching pensionable age I was, like many before me, looking forward to doing little but pottering around the garden, watching Sky Sports and counting my money. The world cruise was out there somewhere in the ether towards the end of phase two.
One of my sons got wind of my 'plans' and bought me a book entitled something like 'Effective Retirement'. The worm had turned. Rather than me continually going on at my offspring as to how they would utilise their (very) expensive education, I had to provide the plans. I managed to while away the first three months demolishing the old shed, spending hours meticulously separating rusty nails from rotting wood and making a life long friend in next door's cat. When the last day of the Ashes at the Oval coincided with the final dump run, having now successfully saved the planet I had no option but to open the book which fell open at the chapter entitled 'Stimulate you Mind'. This suggested restarting some mental activity which you had enjoyed but had curtailed due to work/ family pressures.
So I joined a local bridge club and from there bridge has taken over my life. It is stimulating, flexes your memory and is addictive so be warned - very few people stop playing so once you start you are in it for life - some say it should carry a government health warning. Others want the government to promote it as it 'adds life to your years' rather than just adding years to your life. It provides regular social interaction in a challenging but fun environment.
Bridge is a partnership game. You compete as a pair so need to build up a common understanding (of both bidding and play) and that is part of the challenge. Many bridge clubs now run friendly beginner and 'assisted play' sessions to help new players learn at a pace that suits. It is not necessary to attend as a pair - players can be paired up and may change partners each week. Eventually you will find someone with whom to form a partnership. Playing bridge opens a whole new world of activity from weekly club sessions to 'cafe bridge' days in local towns and holidays both in UK and abroad.
Playing with different partners 5 times a week, assisting with various training sessions and going on bridge breaks has now kidnapped my 'retirement'.
Five minute video explaining the basics of bridge
The English Bridge Union (EBU) to which most (but not all) bridge clubs are affiliated can help if you need to find a local club via: https://www.ebu.co.uk/home
If you are in or near the Croydon/Purley area and would like to know more about the local clubs please feel free to email me at: Chris.briggs3101@gmail.com